BOONE, N.C. — Highlighted by first-team honoree Michael Pierson, three Appalachian State University baseball student-athletes are part of College Sports Madness' preseason all-Sun Belt Conference teams. Joining Pierson on the CSM preseason all-conference squads are second-team selections Dillon Dobson and Matt Brill.

A versatile senior, Pierson garnered first-team recognition as an infielder. He led Appalachian State in batting average (.343), on-base percentage (.425), runs (41), hits (69), doubles (16), total bases (108) and walks (26) en route to first-team all-Southern Conference recognition at second base as a junior last spring. Defensively, Pierson played both second (32 starts) and third base (21 starts) last season, has also made 11 appearances in left field during the course of his career and will likely be the Mountaineers' starting shortstop when they open the season on Friday.

A junior and high-level prospect for this year's Major League Baseball Draft, Dobson also earned first-team all-SoCon honors after hitting .299 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 39 RBI as a sophomore in 2014. He led Appalachian in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (.545) last season, while tying for fifth in SoCon in home runs and ranking ninth in the league in slugging percentage. Dobson, who has played first base, second base, shortstop and left field during his first two collegiate seasons, is expected to be App State's starting second baseman in 2015 after earning all-conference recognition as a shortstop last season.

Brill was a member of the SoCon's all-freshman team last season after hitting .306 with four homers and 20 RBI in his first collegiate campaign. While he was selected preseason all-Sun Belt by CSM as an outfielder, he may also contribute as a pitcher this season. He was selected as a hurler by the New York Mets in the 24th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.

In addition to the three preseason all-conference selections by CSM, d1baseball.com has recently tabbed Appalachian State to finish third in the ultra-competitive Sun Belt this season. The accolades come on the heels of the Sun Belt's coaches picking Appalachian to finish last in the 11-team Sun Belt and not recognizing any Mountaineers on their preseason all-conference team.

The much-anticipated 2015 campaign begins on Friday when Appalachian State takes on former SoCon rival Davidson on the opening day of the NC State Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at NC State's Doak Field. Following Friday's opener versus Davidson, the Mountaineers play Villanova on Saturday at 11 a.m. and NC State on Sunday at 3 p.m.