by Matt Plante
Vice President
Opening Weekend in College Baseball
Top Tier Alumni Roundup: Top Performances from the Weekend
Cal Coughlin, TCU @Calcogz22TT
Coughlin a year removed from pitching out of the bullpen as a freshman in the College World Series picked up right where he left off. In his sophomore campaign he came out of the bullpen twice this past weekend for #3 ranked team in the nation. He went a total of 3 innings vs. Grand Canyon giving up 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 2 and picking up the win in the opener. The Horned Frogs took 2 of 3 from Grand Canyon this weekend.
Ryan Altenberger, Xavier @RAltenberger
Altenberger got his 1st collegiate start as a freshman vs. #5 ranked, Florida State this past weekend. He was 2 for 4 with a double in the second game of the series and 1 for 4 in the finale, giving him a .375 batting average for the weekend. Xavier got swept on the weekend, but Ryan showed a strong college debut for the Musketeers.
Sean Hjelle, Kentucky @Hjellebean
Hjelle one of the most talked about arms in College Baseball this year, an All American pick by college writers got the opening day start for his #8 ranked in the nation, Wildcats. Hjelle picked up the win vs. Wofford going 6 innings giving up 1 run on 2 hits, 2 walks while striking out 3. Kentucky took 2 more games over the weekend vs. SC-Upstate and are 3-0 on the year.
Willie Bourbon, Northwestern @williebourbon
Bourbon in his Junior season with the Wildcats had a huge offensive weekend collecting a hit in all 3 games, hitting .300 with a homerun, a triple and a double. The Wildcats however lost 2 of 3 vs. Nebraska-Omaha on opening weekend.
Brett Newberg, Austin Peay @BrettNewb
Newberg picked up the win on opening day out of the bullpen. Newberg went 3.2 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, 1 walk while striking out 3 vs. South Dakota State. Newberg made another relief appearance vs. Illinois to help preserve the win going 0.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 1. The Governors went a perfect 3-0 on the weekend beating South Dakota State twice and Illinois once.
Ben Dickey, Northwestern @bendickey10
Dickey in his Junior season got the start in the outfield for all three games this past weekend going 4 for 11, hitting .363 with a double and 3 stolen bases. The Wildcats lost 2 of 3 vs. Nebraska-Omaha.
Bobby Seymour, Wake Forest @bobbyseymour127
Seymour got the start as a freshman at first base on opening weekend. The Demon Deacons beat Georgetown and Gardner-Webb and lost to Navy. Seymour went 4 for 12 in his college debut hitting .333 with a double and an RBI.
Travis Upp, IPFW @TUpp_12
Upp came out of the gates swinging in opening weekend going 6 for 10, hitting .600 with a homerun and 2 RBI’s. IPFW however lost 2 of 3 vs. Alabama A&M.
Michael Costanzo, Austin Peay @costanzoAP56
Costanzo got the opening day start as a senior for the Governors. Costanzo got a No-Decision but pitched great giving up 0 earned runs in 5 innings of work, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk while striking out 7. Austin Peay swept on the weekend.
Steven Skolarz, University of Montevallo
Skolarz a transfer from Loyola-Marymount has made 3 starts this year for Montevallo. He in 2-0 on the year picking up wins vs. Bellarmine and Ohio Valley. He got a No-Decision in his last start vs. Trevecca Nazarene but pitched really well. On the year, he has thrown 17 innings in his 3 starts, giving up only 3 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out a staggering 26. Montevallo is currently 8-3 on the year.
Cooper Johnson, Ole Miss @coopj325
Johnson got the start on opening day behind the dish vs. Winthrop going 2 for 4. He got another start in the finale as well at catcher. Ole Miss is ranked #9 in the nation and swept Winthrop over the weekend.
Brady Huffman, Illinois State @brady_huffman
Huffman got the opening day start vs. Arkansas State, giving a strong performance but taking the loss. Huffman went 5 innings giving up only 1 run on 2 hits, 2 walks while striking out 9. The Redbirds took 2 of 3 from Arkansas State on the weekend.
Trey Schramm, Xavier @tschramm13
Schramm got one relief appearance this past weekend vs. the #5 ranked Florida State Seminoles. In his relief appearance, Schramm went 3 innings giving up 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 1. Xavier got swept on the weekend.
Peyton Isaacson, Saint Leo @TheMagnum_PI
Isaacson a transfer from Coastal Carolina has had an unbelievable start to his season. He has had a hit in every game but one. He is currently 10 for 31, hitting .322 in 8 games with 6 doubles and a homerun. Not only is Isaacson on a tear at the plate he is even more effective on the mound. Isaacson has 4 saves in his 4 appearances going a total of 4 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 5. Saint Leo is 6-2 on the year, taking 2 from Alabama-Huntsville, 2 of 3 from Lee University and 2 of 3 from West Alabama.
Matt Burch, Wabash Valley CC
Burch a transfer from Arkansas went 7 for 15, hitting .466 with 2 doubles and a homerun in opening weekend. Wabash Valley took 2 from Snead State CC and one from Volunteer State CC over the weekend.
Jeremy Gaines, John A. Logan CC @Jgaines_
Gaines collected a hit in all 4 games played on opening weekend. Gaines went 8 for 14, hitting .571 with 2 RBI’s. John Logan beat Rock Valley twice, Southern Union State and Spartanburg Methodist over the weekend.
Quinn Snarskis, Illinois @SnarskiAndHutch
Snarskis made his 1st D1 appearance out of the bullpen after transferring from Saint Joseph’s College. Snarskis went 3.1 innings giving up 0 runs on 2 hits, 1 walk while striking out 3. Illinois lost to Austin Peay and beat South Dakota State over the weekend and stand at 1-1 overall.
Collin Clayton, John A. Logan CC @WizCollifa
Clayton was a perfect 4 for 4 on opening day. He finished the weekend going 8 for 17, hitting .471 with 2 doubles, a triple and 3 RBI’s.
Ryan Fish, Texas Rio Grande Valley @the_fish_fillet
Fish a transfer from Jefferson CC got his 1st D1 start this past weekend in the outfield. Fish went 2 for 7 with a homerun and 3 RBI’s. TRGV went 4-0 on the weekend, beating Central Michigan twice and SF Austin twice.
Ashton Creal, John A. Logan CC @cg_creal
Creal went 4 for 10, hitting .400 in his two starts as a freshman on opening weekend. John A. Logan is 4-0 to start the year.
Michael Schalasky, University of Indianapolis
Schalasky took the loss in his 1st relief appearance going 2 innings giving up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 1. Then he came back in the finale vs. Kentucky Wesleyan picking up the win in relief tossing 3.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 3. UIndy took 2 of 3 from Kentucky Wesleyan on opening weekend.
Patrick Rumoro, Louisville @PRumoro
Rumoro went 1 for 4 in his one start this past weekend vs. the Citadel with a RBI and a walk. Louisville beat Richmond, the Citadel and George Mason this past weekend for the #13 ranked Cardinals.
Brenden Heiss, John A. Logan CC @Heiss42
Heiss a transfer from Arkansas went 1.1 innings of relief on opening weekend giving up 0 earned runs on 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 3.
Luke Johnson, Bucknell @LukeJohnson_6
Johnson went 4 for 12, hitting .333 with a double and 2 RBI’s on the opening weekend as the senior starting shortstop vs. Arkansas. Bucknell however got swept on opening weekend.
Kevin Sullivan, Middle Tennessee State
Sullivan went 3 for 5, hitting . 600 along with earning 3 walks vs. Western Illinois on opening weekend. MTSU swept Western Illinois over the weekend and are 3-0 to start the year.
Aaron Fuller, Lindenwood-Belleville (MO) @IssAJ44
Fuller went 10 for 30, hitting .333 in his senior campaign on the first 3 weekends of play. Fuller has collected 3 doubles and a triple. Lindenwood is 6-4 on the year.
Michael Fuentes, Northern Illinois
Fuentes got his 1st collegiate appearance as a freshman this past weekend out of the bullpen. Fuentes went 1 inning giving up 0 runs on 1 hit, 1 walk while striking out 1. NIU took 2 of 3 from University of Central Arkansas on opening weekend.
Brett Taucher, SIUE @brettTaucher
Taucher made his 1st collegiate appearance out of the bullpen this weekend as a freshman. Taucher went 1 inning giving up 1 run on 1 hit, 1 walk while striking out 2. SIUE lost 2 of 3 vs. Southeastern Louisiana.
Mark DiLuia, Maryland @MDiLuia24
Diluia made his college debut as a freshman throwing in relief vs. Tennessee. He went 3.2 innings giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while striking out 2. Maryland took 2 of 3 from Tennessee over the weekend.
Jack Carberry, Western Illinois @jackcarberry12
Carberry made his 1st collegiate relief appearance vs. Middle Tennessee State on opening weekend going 1.1 innings giving up 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 2.
Michael Sebby, Illinois State @mike_sebby
Sebby came out of the bullpen in the opening weekend going 1 inning giving up 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 1.
David Dobrinich, Western Illinois @DDobrinich30
Dobrinich collect a pair of hits in his two starts this past weekend vs. Middle Tennessee State.
Keaton Rice, Bradley @ricekrispy_
Rice got the start behind the plate in all three games on opening weekend as a freshman. Rice went 1 for 8 with 4 walks and helped Bradley beat Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State. Bradley went 2-1 on opening weekend.
Sam Cottingham-Beard, Western Illinois @toptierboy17
Cottingham-Beard went 2 innings of relief on the opening weekend giving up 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk. Western Illinois got swept by Middle Tennessee State over the weekend.
Anfernee Crompton, Army @ac_crompton
Crompton went 1 for 2 opening weekend with a double, a stolen base and 2 RBI’s. Army lost 2 of 3 vs. Michigan.
Ryan Dunne, Western Illinois @RyanDunne11
Dunne got the start in the 3rd game of the weekend vs. Middle Tennessee State picking up the loss tossing 4.2 innings giving up 5 earned runs on 8 hits while striking out 7.
Tyler Lass, Northwestern @TLass35
Lass came out of relief on opening weekend going 3 innings giving up 1 run on 3 hits and 3 walks vs. Nebraska-Omaha.
Angel Sandoval, Saint Francis (IL)
Sandoval has made two relief appearances as freshman at St. Francis. In his 1st outing vs. Cumberland he went 3 innings of relief work giving up 0 earned runs on 6 hits and 2 walks while striking out 1. In his 2nd outing, he went 3 inning of relief vs. Martin Methodist giving up 2 earned runs on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 1. St. Francis went 1-1 vs. Cumberland and Martin Methodist.
Michael Kruse, Benedictine (KS) @MikeKruse12
Kruse has made two appearances on the mound to start the season. In his 1st outing he went 2 innings giving up 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 2 vs. Southwestern College. Kruse’s 2nd outing he picked up the win vs. Robert Morris tossing 4 innings giving up 0 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7.
Eric Giltz, SIUE @EricGiltz
Giltz started every game in the outfield on opening weekend, collecting 2 hits, with a double, a walk and an RBI.
Nick Menken, Virginia Tech @Nickmenken
Menken got the start for all 3 games in centerfield after transferring from Iowa Western CC. Menken collected his 1st hit at the D1 level vs. Oklahoma with 2 RBI’s. The Hokies lost to Coastal Carolina and South Alabama, but beat Oklahoma over the weekend.
Hank Christie, Northwestern
Christie got the opening day start vs. Nebraska-Omaha after a very good season as freshman starter last year. His opening day start however did not go as well as he had hoped as he was only able to go 3.1 innings taking the loss for the Wildcats.
Jesse Forestell, Western Michigan @jesse_forestell
Forestell got the start in all 3 games on opening weekend, hitting a double and collecting a pair of walks. The Broncos lost all three to Purdue this past weekend.
Neil Lambert, Bowling Green @neillambert14
Lambert got the start in all 3 games on opening weekend after transferring from Triton CC. Bowling Green got swept by UAB.
