Three Western Kentucky players were named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Baseball Team, league officials announced Thursday afternoon.

WKU seniors Mason Burns, Lane Diuguid and sophomore Dawson Hall were named to the 18-person team.

This marks the first time WKU has had any pitcher named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team and the first time the Hilltoppers have had more than one player awarded the honor prior to the season.

Burns, Diuguid and Hall join former Hilltoppers Tristin Garcia (2023), Davis Sims (2021), Richard Constantine (2020), Danny Hudzina Sr. (2016) and Ryan Church (2015) to claim spots on the CUSA Preseason All-Conference Teams since WKU joined the league in 2015.

The 2024 preseason poll saw WKU picked to finish fifth among the nine teams. The Hilltoppers were projected to finish in last place in the 2023 preseason poll before earning fourth place after the conclusion of last year’s regular season. Both the poll and the preseason team are voted on by conference head coaches.

Burns is coming off an impressive first season at WKU in 2023 after transferring in from Indiana State. The Bloomington, Illinois, native made 23 appearances on the mound with four starts. He posted a 6-2 record and four saves as the Tops’ go-to-guy out of the bullpen. The senior produced a team-best 2.95 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 55 innings of work. Burns was almost untouchable through the last two months of the season when he went 26.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. The right-hander received recognition from Perfect Game USA’s “Top 75 College Seniors,” with Burns coming in at No. 48 on the list.

Diuguid returns to WKU for his fifth season on the mound after the best statistical season in 2023. The Hopkinsville native made 15 appearances with 13 starts while producing a 2-4 overall record for WKU. His 4.52 ERA, 55 strikeouts, and 65.2 total innings all mark career bests for the left-hander in his four years as a Hilltopper. The senior notched wins against 2023 CUSA champion Charlotte on April 28 and CUSA runner-up No. 17 Dallas Baptist in an upset win on the road on May 18.

Hall was the team’s leader in wins in just his first collegiate season in 2023 after earning a weekend starting job just a few weeks into the season. The Bowling Green native appeared in 16 games with 12 starts on the rubber totaling a 7-4 record. Four of his seven wins came in his first six outings. He led all majority starting pitchers with a 3.58 ERA and accumulated 44 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched. The sophomore earned Second Team All-Conference and CUSA All-Freshman team honors for his stellar debut season with WKU.

In his first year at the helm, head coach Marc Rardin improved the Hilltoppers win total by 15 from 2022 to 2023 and lead WKU to a Conference USA semifinal appearance for the first time in program history. WKU’s fourth place regular-season finish is tied for the highest rank going into the CUSA Tournament since joining the league in 2015.

2024 CUSA Preseason Coaches Poll (First Place Votes in Parenthesis)

1. Dallas Baptist (9)

2. Liberty

3. Louisiana Tech

4. Sam Houston

5. WKU

6. MTSU

7. Jacksonville State

8. FIU

9. New Mexico State

2024 CUSA Preseason Player of the Year

Grant Jay, Dallas Baptist (Sophomore, C)

2024 CUSA Preseason Pitcher of the Year

Ryan Johnson, Dallas Baptist (Junior, RHP)

2023 C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team

C: Grant Jay, So., Dallas Baptist

INF: Miguel Santos, Sr., Dallas Baptist

INF: Derrick Jackson Jr., Sr., Jacksonville State

INF: Cam Foster, Jr., Liberty

INF: Aiden Sweatt, Sr., Liberty

INF: Easton Lloyd, Sr., Sam Houston

OF: Nathan Humphreys, Jr., Dallas Baptist

OF: Keith Jones, Sr., New Mexico State

OF: Jake Tatom, So., Sam Houston

DH: Ethan Mann, R-Sr., Dallas Baptist

UTIL: Ethan Bates, Sr., Louisiana Tech

SP: Ryan Johnson, Jr., Dallas Baptist

SP: Garrett Horn, Sr., Liberty

SP: Coltin Atkinson, Sr., Sam Houston

SP: Lane Diuguid, Sr., WKU

SP: Dawson Hall, So., WKU

RP: Chandler David, Sr., Sam Houston

RP: Mason Burns, Sr., WKU