Siouxfan brought up the topic in passing on the football board, but I thought it deserved its own topic in the baseball forum. He or she opined that the Aggies would finish first in the WAC. While I like the enthusiasm I don't think it's realistic, that the conference is stronger than they think.

As someone who sees several Sac State games a year I would say that UCD would finish 2- 3 spots higher than they do in the Big West most years and be a middle- of the- pack team (barring some quicker than expected improvement). New Mexico State (the 2018 WAC champion) is strong, but they aren't the only challenger:

Sac State- they've won the conference tournament twice since 2014 and they've had seven consecutive winning seasons. They're replacing most of their starting position players this year but they still have pretty strong pitching + defense. Also, UCD hasn't beaten the hornets since 2017 + it took a walk- off balk to get that win. Likely will still finish no lower than 4th.

Grand Canyon- probably the top challenger to NMSU.

Seattle: Every year they seem to recruit some really good pitchers, even a few with mid- high 90's heaters. Kind of baffling how they manage to do it. I've been to Seattle U- they don't even have their own baseball field, the campus kind of has a commuter college feel, albeit with much nicer buildings + landscaping. They use a community park in Bellevue- that's similar to the SF Academy of Art playing its games in Petaluma. Throw in the cost of a private school education + the fact the team had 25 consecutive losing seasons prior to 2014 (when they beat the Aggies 3 out of 4) and it's a real head- scratcher as to how they get these players. Very nice campus though Tough team to beat when their pitching is healthy.

I'm leaving Bakersfield out since they're joining the Big West soon

Northern Colorado often finishes with a sub .500 record but they won 3 of 4 from UCD last year.

UTRGV- kind of the underachiever of the TX schools, but they surprise now and then. In 2014 they had that pitcher Sam Street who started the season 10- 0. Just like all TX teams they're tougher to beat in the Lone Star state.

Utah Valley and Chicago State have been bottom- feeders of late + I don't really know how well Cal Baptist will adjust to D1 just yet.

Honestly I wouldn't say UCD would even be the runaway favorite to win the CCAA conference if they moved down to D 2 (keeping all current players)- they would be one of the favorites though. I don't mean to say that the team isn't good, just that it would be quite presumptious to think they'd just steamroll over the conference fors, like Chico State used to do in the 90's. The Aggies used to beat some D1 teams when they were D2. With 4 game weekeend series that conference is ripe for upsets.

Think the point is moot though. The university would likely have a fit about having to send 25+ student athletes on flights out of state at least 3 times a year + that's not including non- conference games. I think if UCD ever becomes a full member of the WAC they'll just cut the sport altogether