Alumni Roundup: Week Five

March 17, 2025


We're more than a month into the college season, and players like Wes Mendes, Brendan Summerhill, Daniel Pacella and others are beginning to separate themselves like we knew they would. What stands out most is the consistency of these players. Take Vytas Valincius for example - a hit in all but one game he's played in this season. We look forward to watching more of the same from these Top Tier alums as the season continues.

Week Five


Wes Mendes is on a tear for Florida State. He's provided ace-like stuff on the mound so far this season and Saturday was no different. This weekend against Boston College, Mendes threw seven innings and struckout eight. Just one run on four hits were allowed in a 6-2 victory for the Seminoles. 


Mendes is now 4-0 on the year with a 0.66 ERA, 27.1 IP and 43 K's. The 18-1, fifth-ranked Seminoles travel to Coral Gables for a weekend set with Miami this weekend.

Brendan Summerhill has been red hot the past couple weekends. The Arizona Wildcats hosted new conference foe Cincinnati and swept the three-game set in Tucson. Summerhill collected nine hits throughout the three games, 10 hits total this past week which included a midweek against Arizona State. Summerhill's best game came on Saturday when he went 4-for-5 with a 2B, 3B and drove in three runs.


Since March 6, Summerhill has struck out just once and raised his batting average from .348 to .423. Almost more impressively, Summerhill has struck out just once in his last 32 at-bats.

Mack Whitcomb collected five hits throughout the weekend in a 2-2 week for Tennessee Tech. Kenny Perez had seven knocks this week against in-state rivals Illinois and Illinois State. Friday night, Perez had three hits and a pair knocked in against the Redbirds in a victory.


Nicky Giamarusti went big fly for Ohio State on Friday against Indiana. The homer was part of his two hits on the day and he also drove in a pair.


Daniel Pacella continues to rake for Illinois State. Pacella collected eight hits on the week including a homer against WIU and four knocked in. The junior from Mundelein is hitting .433 and leads the team in hits, doubles and total bases.

Redbird teammate of Pacella's, Josh Outlaw, is putting together a fine first season with Illinois State. Through 23 at-bats, Outlaw is hitting .348 and has a hit in all but two games that he's participated in. This week against Western Illinois, Outlaw had five hits, drove in four and stole a bag.


Graham Mastros had a pair of doubles this weekend against WIU. In his first season with ISU, Mastros is hitting .242 with seven XBH and six bags swiped.


Vytas Valincius is a staple in the Illinois lineup and continues to prove why he's a middle-of-the-order bat. He's hitting .338 on the season with seven XBH. He's had a knock in all but one game that he's played in this season. Against Valparaiso and Western Illinois this past week, Valincius had seven hits, seven runs knocked in and a homer in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Valincius stolen base count is at three so far this season - up from zero a year ago.


Luke Weber had a solid outing for the Illini on Friday against Valpo. He threw 2.1 innings and allowed just one baserunner. He K'd two in his eight batters faced. He picked up the save in a 13-9 Illinois win.


Jaylon Nauden had five hits for Arkansas-Pine Bluff this week. Brenden Stressler had three knocks for SLU including a 3B and HR against SJU.


Jameson Martin added his third home run of the season to his stat line. He launched a no-doubter in a Sunday win against Oregon.

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