by Matt Plante
Vice President
Opening Weekend in College Baseball
Top Performances from Top Tier Alumni in Week #1 of Collegiate Baseball
Cooper Johnson, Ole Miss @coopj325 
Johnson had a huge two days at the plate on opening weekend vs. Wright State. Johnson, the Rebels starting catcher this year went 3 for 4 in Game 1 with a homer, a double and 2 RBI’s. In Game 2, Johnson followed it up with a 1 for 3 performance with a single, an RBI and a walk. The series finale got cancelled due to rain with Ole Miss splitting with the Raiders. Johnson finished the weekend hitting .571.
Jeremy Gaines, Illinois State @Jgaines_
Gaines collected a hit in every game on opening weekend as well vs. Belmont. Gaines went 5 for 10, hitting .500 with 3 RBI’s over the weekend. ISU swept Belmont and are 3-0 to start the year.
Bobby Seymour, Wake Forest @bobbyseymour127
Seymour was huge offensively on opening weekend, going 5 for 11, hitting .455 with two doubles and 5 RBI’s. Wake Forest beat Sacred Heart and Georgetown while losing to Illinois. The Demon Deacons are 2-1 to start the year.
Willie Bourbon, Northwestern @williebourbon
Bourbon went 5 for 12, hitting .417 with a homerun and 3 RBI’s on opening weekend. Northwestern lost 2 of 3 vs. BYU, then bounced back to beat California to move to 2-2 on the year.
Andrew Hoffmann, Oakland @hoffdaddy27
Hoffmann made his 1st collegiate start vs. Western Carolina on opening weekend earning a no-decision for his efforts. Hoffmann pitched great going 5 innings giving up 0 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. However the Golden Grizzlies couldn’t get the win despite his efforts on the mound. Oakland lost all three games this weekend and are 0-3 on the year.
Matt Burch, Old Dominion
Burch collected a hit in every game on opening weekend vs. High Point. Burch went 5 for 12, hitting .417 on the weekend with two doubles, 2 RBI’s and a stolen base. However, his offensive outburst wasn’t enough as they lost 2 of 3 vs. High Point over the weekend.
Hank Christie, Northwestern
Christie pitched great on opening day but got a no-decision vs BYU. Christie threw a really good 6 innings giving up only one run on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4. The Wildcats went 2-2 on the weekend.
Keaton Rice, Bradley @ricekrispy_
Rice collected a hit in every game this past weekend vs. Central Arkansas. Rice went 4 for 10, hitting .400 with two doubles. Bradley went on to take 2 of 3 from Central Arkansas on opening weekend.
Neil Lambert, Bowling Green @neillambert14
Lambert collected a hit in every game on opening weekend vs. Middle Tennessee State. Lambert went 4 or 11, hitting .364 with two doubles and an RBI. Bowling Green lost 2 of 3 to start the season.
Jordan Libman, Illinois State @Jordan_Libman
Libman collected a hit in every game on opening weekend vs. Belmont. Libman went 4 for 12, hitting .333 with 2 RBI’s and a stolen base. ISU won all three games vs. Belmont scoring a combined 51 runs as a team.
Robby McGaha, USC-Upstate @robbymc24
McGaha went 5 for 16, hitting .313 with 3 doubles, 2 walks and an RBI this past weekend vs. Kansas. USC-Upstate went 2-2 vs. Kansas this past weekend and McGaha was the leadoff hitter to get it all going for the Spartans.
Travis Upp, IPFW @TUpp_12
Upp went 5 for 16 on opening weekend, hitting .313 with a double and 3 RBI’s. IPFW went on to win all four games vs. Alabama A&M to start the season off 4-0.
Cam Redding, Saint Louis @ReddingCam7
Redding made his 1st collegiate debut as a pinch-hitter where he hit a single and an got an RBI. Later in the weekend, Redding came in off the bench to catch getting another single and two more RBI’s. In just two at bats this weekend, Redding was a perfect 2 for 2 with 3 RBI’s. Saint Louis went 2-2 on the weekend vs. Miami (OH).
Jesse Forestell, Western Michigan @jesse_forestell
Forestell collected a hit in every game on opening weekend vs. SEMO. Forestell was a fan of the long ball hitting two home runs this past weekend and collecting 5 RBI’s. His huge power numbers at the dish however were not enough as the Broncos got swept by SEMO.
Dalton Parker, Purdue @daltontparker
Parker got the start on opening day vs. Southern Miss. Parker earned a no-decision for his efforts, going 4 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. Purdue got swept by #21 ranked Southern Miss over the weekend and are 0-3 to start the year.
Brian Schrimmer, Bradley
Schrimmer made one relief appearance on opening weekend vs. Central Arkansas. Schrimmer threw 1 inning of relief giving up one run on 0 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Bradley is 2-1 to start the season.
Kellen Sarver, Illinois @Sarver_Kellen
Sarver got a pinch-hit single in the opener and then followed it up with a 1 for 4 appearance at 1B in Game 2 on the weekend with an RBI. Sarver went 2 for 8 on the weekend, hitting .250 and helping the Fighting Illini beat Georgetown, Wake Forest and Sacred Heart to start off 3-0.
Austin Blazevic, Southeast Missouri State
Blazevic went 2 for 7, hitting .286 with a homerun, a double and 4 RBI’s this past weekend vs. Western Michigan. SEMO went on to take all three games vs. the Broncos to start the year 3-0.
Keegan Bates, Valparasio @keegan_bates
Bates made his 1st collegiate debut on the mound in relief vs. Lipscomb on opening weekend. Bates threw one inning of relief giving up 0 runs on 0 hits and 1 walk. Valpo went 1-1 vs. Lipscomb over the weekend with the series finale getting cancelled due to rain.
Patrick Martin, University of Illinois-Chicago
Martin threw one inning in relief on opening weekend vs. Kennesaw State, where he gave up 0 runs on only 1 hit while striking out 1. UIC lost all three games this weekend to start 0-3 on the year.
Conner Tomasic, Purdue @swaggyct5
Tomasic made his 1st collegiate relief appearance in Game 2 vs. Southern Miss, tossing 0.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit. Purdue got swept by Southern Miss on opening weekend.
Trey Schramm, Xavier @tschramm13
Schramm made one relief appearance in the series finale vs. North Carolina. Schramm went 2.2 innings giving up 2 runs on only 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 1. Xavier lost all three games vs. the Tarheels and are 0-3 to start the year.
Brett Newberg, Austin Peay @BrettNewb
Newberg got the start on Saturday night vs. Kentucky where he ended up on the losing end of things but pitched solid through 5 innings of work. Newberg gave the Governors a chance giving up 5 earned runs on only 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. The Governors got swept over the weekend vs. the Wildcats and are 0-3 to start the year.
Quinn Snarskis, Illinois @SnarskiAndHutch
Snarskis got the Friday night start in the opener vs. Georgetown getting no-decision for his 3.2 innings of work. Snarskis gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 1. Illinois went 3-0 on the weekend.
Brenden Heiss, Florida Gulf Coast @Heiss42
Heiss got the start on Saturday night vs. Bethune-Cookman getting a no decision. Heiss went 3 innings giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and 5 walks while striking out 2. Florida Gulf Coast went on to take 2 of 3 on the weekend vs. Bethune-Cookman.
Jack Carberry, Western Illinois @jackcarberry12
Carberry made a relief appearance on opening weekend vs. Tennessee Tech. Carberry went 4.2 innings vs. Tennessee Tech giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. The Leathernecks lost all 3 this past weekend are 0-3 to start the year.
Cheorkee LeBeau, Oakland @CherokeeLeBeau
LeBeau got his 1st collegiate start at shortstop in the weekend finale vs. Western Carolina. LeBeau went 1 for 4 with an RBI. Oakland dropped all three games vs. the Catamounts and are 0-3 to start the season.
David Craan, Illinois @CrayolaCraanBox
Craan hit a pinch-hit 2 run homer in the opener vs. Georgetown. Craan pinch-hit later in the weekend as well to help the Fighting Illini go 3-0 on the weekend.
Clay Thompson, Oakland @claythompson246
Thompson started all three games vs. Western Carolina this weekend in RF for the Golden Grizzlies. In Thompson’s collegiate debut he went 1 for 5 with a two-run homerun. That was the only hit Thompson would get on the weekend as they got swept by Western Carolina and are 0-3 to start the season.
Ben Dickey, Northwestern @bendickey10
Dickey collected 3 hits over the opening weekend with a double and a stolen base. The Wildcats lost 2 of 3 to BYU and beat California to finish 2-2 on the weekend.
Ryan Altenberger, Xavier @RAltenberger
Altenberger collected 2 hits, 4 walks and 2 stolen bases on opening weekend vs. North Carolina. Xavier got swept by North Carolina this past weekend.
Zach Frieling, Saint Louis @ZFrieling
Frieling went 2 for 9 over the weekend with 2 RBI’s starting at 3B. Saint Louis earned a split going 2-2 on the weekend vs. Miami (OH).
Collin Clayton, Missouri State @WizCollifa
Clayton in his debut for the Bears collected 2 hits on the weekend as an everyday starter in the outfield. Missouri State lost to Nevada and Texas State and beat Utah over the weekend. The Bears are 1-2 to start the season.
Eric Giltz, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville @EricGiltz
Giltz only got in for one pinch-hit at bat in opening weekend vs. UAB. Giltz made the most of it getting a single and an RBI. SIUE got swept on the weekend vs. UAB and are 0-3 to start the year.
Camden Nisenson, IPFW @CamdenNisenson
Nisenson got his 1st collegiate start in LF for the opener vs. Alabama A&M. Nisensen we 0-0 with a walk and an RBI. IPFW went 4-0 on the weekend vs. Alabama A&M.
Scott Youngbrandt, Saint Louis @syoungbrandt15
Youngbrandt got a start over the weekend at 1B. In his college debut he went 0 for 3 with 2 walks. Youngbrandt came in once more time on the weekend as a pinch-hitter going 0 for 1 with another walk. Saint Louis split with Miami (OH) over the weekend.
Brady Miller, Western Michigan @brady_mil3
Miller got his 1st collegiate start in the series finale vs. SEMO, going 3 innings giving up 5 runs on 9 hits while striking out 2. The Broncos lost all three games and are 0-3 to start the year.
Trey Torain, George Washington @TreyTorain16
Torain made his 1st collegiate debut in RF for the Colonials on Saturday vs. Tulane. Torain went 0-2 with 2 walks, and George Washington got swept on the weekend to start the season off 0-3.
Ryan Howe, Purdue @r_howe13
Howe got his 1st collegiate at bat in Game 3 of the series vs. Southern Miss where he pinch-hit late and earned a walk. Purdue lost all three games to Southern Miss over the weekend.
Ryan Hampe, University of Illinois-Chicago @ryaanhampe
Hampe got his 1st collegiate at bat as a pinch-hitter vs. Kennesaw State on opening weekend. Hampe went 0 for 1. UIC dropped all three games on opening weekend, losing to Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State and Georgia State.
Peyton Isaacson, Saint Leo @TheMagnum_PI
Isaacson continues to dominate at the plate this year on the last two weekends. Against Lee University, he went 5 for 13 with a homer and two doubles along with 6 RBI’s. Saint Leo swept Lee that weekend. Then this past weekend Saint Leo played #3 ranked Columbus State, where Isaacson went 4 for 14 with two more home runs and 2 RBI’s. However, Saint Leo would get swept by Columbus State this past weekend to fall to 6-4 overall on the year. Isaacson, who is contention for Player of the Year this year in D2 baseball is on a 10-game hitting streak.
Kolton Rominski, Hillsdale @kidk1813
Rominski came in relief on opening day this past weekend vs. Wayne State. Rominski threw great but it wasn’t enough as Hillsdale lost both to Wayne State over the weekend to start the year 0-2. Rominski threw 4 scoreless innings vs. the Warriors only allowing one hit while striking out 2.
Ryan Fish, University of Illinois-Springfield @the_fish_fillet
Fish had multiple hits on opening weekend in his two starts in centerfield for UIS. Fish went 4 for 7, hitting .571 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases to help UIS sweep Saginaw Valley State this past weekend and move them to 3-0 to start the year.
Anthony Rios, Lewis @rios_baseball12
Rios collected a hit in every game on opening weekend vs. Trevecca Nazarene. Rios went 4 for 12, hitting .333 with two doubles to help Lewis sweep the series and help the Flyers out to a 3-0 start to the season.
Jacob Lotz, Lewis
Lotz picked up his 1st collegiate win in relief on opening day vs. Trevecca Nazarene. Lotz went 0.2 innings of relief giving up 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 1. Lewis won all 3 games over the weekend and are 3-0 to start the season.
Jacob Nagel, Bellarmine @jacobnag14
Nagel looked much better in week 2 of play on the mound vs. Union University. Nagel got a no-decision tossing 4.1 innings giving up two earned runs off 5 hits while striking out 4. Bellarmine lost both to Union on the weekend and lost 2 of 3 vs. West Georgia last weekend to put them at 1-4 to start the year.
Zach Girard, Wayne State
Girard went 1 for 3 on opening day this past weekend vs. Hillsdale. Wayne State on both games of the doubleheader to start 2-0 to begin the season.
Louis Niemerg, Maryville @LouisNiemerg
Niemerg homered this past weekend, earned 5 walks and had 2 RBI’s. Maryville, however lost 2 of 3 vs. Southwest Baptist and are now 1-4 overall on the season.
Ashton Creal, John A. Logan CC @cg_creal
Creal collected a hit in every game this past weekend, going 5 for 9, hitting .556 with a homerun, 2 RBI’s and 2 stolen bases. John A. Logan beat Southern Union State, Dyersburg State and Spartanburg Methodist this past weekend to improve to 5-0 overall.
Jackson Shepherd, Mesa CC @Jshepherd26
Shepherd has gotten 6 at bats in the first 12 games of the season and has went 1 for 3 with 3 walks. On the mound he has made two relief appearances for a total of 3 innings giving up 2 earned runs on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1 and earning a save. Mesa CC is 10-2 overall to start the season.
Michael Oh, Northern Iowa Area CC @datpanda42
Oh took the loss on opening weekend vs. Crowder CC tossing 4 innings in his start giving up only one earned run off 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5. NIACC lost both games vs. Crowder CC over the weekend and are 0-2 to start the season.
Tyler Acosta, State College of Florida CC @T-Rey_A
Acosta in the past few weeks has went 7 for 22, hitting .318 with a triple, a double, 5 RBI’s, 8 walks and 3 stolen bases. State College of Florida is now 11-4 overall to start the season.
Malcolm Grady, Campbellsville @mjgrady96
Grady got a start on opening weekend vs. William Carey where he took the loss for his efforts. Grady went 5 innings in the opening weekend giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. Grady made his second appearance in a relief role this past weekend vs. Reinhardt where he tossed 2.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 1. Campbellsville is 4-3 overall to start the season.
