NEW ORLEANS – Texas State sophomore Chase Mora was named to the Sun Belt Conference Preseason All-Conference Team at second base the league office announced on Wednesday. The Bobcats were also picked to finish fifth in the coaches' poll.
 
Mora, who was recently named to the NCBWA Preseason All-America Second Team, is coming off a historic 2023 campaign in which he hit a freshman program record 17 homes that also tied for the fourth most in a season in team history. The Tomball, Texas native also became the first player in NCAA history to hit a homer in each of his first three career plate appearances and set the Sun Belt and TXST single-game record with four round trippers against North Dakota State on Mar. 11, 2023.
 
Last season saw Mora hit .316 with a team-high tying 62 base knocks that included 13 doubles and one triple. He would go on to finish with 57 RBI , 39 runs scored and two stolen bases. His .653 slugging percentage paced the team and tied for the fifth highest ever recorded by a Bobcat.
 
The coaches poll saw the Bobcats total 138 points. Coastal Carolina was picked as the near favorite with 193 points and 12 first-place votes. Following them was Southern Miss (173), Troy (164) and Louisiana (159), which received the other two first-place selections.
 
Finishing behind Texas State was Old Dominion (115), Georgia Southern (99) and South Alabama (98), respectively, to round out the top eight.
 
On Friday, Feb. 16, Texas State opens the 2024 campaign against Youngstown State at Bobcat Ballpark. Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets with the exception of the Texas and Texas A&M games are currently available for purchase at TXST.com/Tickets.
 
2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Niko Mazza, Southern Miss (Jr., SP)
Billy Oldham, Southern Miss (Sr., SP)
Grayson Stewart, Troy (Jr., SP)
Noah Manning, Troy (Sr., RP)
Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina (So., C)
Zach Beach, Coastal Carolina (Gr., 1B)
Chase Mora, Texas State (So. 2B)
Kyle DeBarge, Louisiana (Jr., SS)
Jarrett Brown, Georgia Southern (Sr., 3B)
CJ Boyd, App State (Sr., OF)
Fenwick Trimble, James Madison (Jr., OF)
Shane Lewis, Troy (Jr., OF)
Derek Bender, Coastal Carolina (Jr., DH)
Sam Blancato, Georgia Southern (R-Sr., UTL)
 
Preseason Player of the Year: Kyle DeBarge, Louisiana
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Grayson Stewart, Troy
 
2024 Preseason Sun Belt Coaches Poll
1. Coastal Carolina (12) – 193
2. Southern Miss – 173
3. Troy – 164
4. Louisiana (2) – 159
5. Texas State - 138
6. Old Dominion – 115
7. Georgia Southern – 99
8. South Alabama – 98
9. App State – 82
10. James Madison – 79
11. Georgia State – 78
12. Marshall – 34
13. ULM – 33
14. Arkansas State – 25
 
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