by Matt Plante
Vice President
Week #10 in College Baseball
Top Tier Alumni Roundup: Top Performances from the week
Marshawn Taylor, Grambling State
Taylor was on a tear this week offensively, collected multiple hits in all but one game this past week. Taylor went 9 for 20 hitting. 450 in four games with a double and 4 RBI’s. Grambling State beat UL-Monroe in the mid-week game and took 2 of 3 vs. Southern to improve to 21-19 overall and 13-8 in the SWAC. Taylor in having a stellar senior campaign, leading his team in batting average at .401 and stolen bases with 17 on the year.
Willie Bourbon, Northwestern
Bourbon had a really good offensive weekend vs. Big Ten opponent, Michigan State. Bourbon went 5 for 10, hitting in .500 in the series with a homerun, a double and tallied 4 RBI’s. However, Northwestern got swept by Michigan State over the weekend and slipped to 9-24 overall and 1-14 in the Big Ten. Bourbon on the year is hitting .265 with a slugging % of .487 and leads the Wildcats in home runs with 5 and RBI’s with 23.
Luke Johnson, Bucknell
Johnson collected a hit in all four games he played in this past week. Johnson went 5 for 11 hitting .455 with a double, a triple and an RBI. Bucknell lost to Navy in the mid-week game and won 2 of 3 vs. Lehigh over the weekend to move to 14-23 overall and 11-9 in the Patriot League. Johnson in his senior campaign leads the Bison in batting average on the year, hitting .328, triples with 3 and RBI’s with 22.
Travis Upp, IPFW
Upp had an offensive outburst this past weekend vs. Omaha-Nebraska going 5 for 11 hitting .455 with a double and 4 RBI’s to help IPFW sweep Omaha-Nebraska. The sweep which was the first of the year for the Mastodons improved them to 9-25 overall and 5-13 in the Summit. Upp is leading the Mastodons in RBI’s with 21 and is 2nd on the team in batting average at .306, doubles with 7 and home runs with 2.
Brenden Heiss, John A. Logan CC
Heiss picked up his 6th win of the season vs. Olney Central College this past weekend. Heiss was absolutely dominate in his start throwing a complete game shutout only giving up 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 11. John A. Logan took 2 of 3 from Olney Central and improved to 26-13 overall on the year.
Michael Costanzo, Austin Peay
Costanzo picked up his 7th win of the year vs. Morehead State this past weekend. Costanzo went 8 innings giving up only 1 run on 7 hits while striking out 5. Austin Peay took 2 of 3 from Morehead State over the weekend and improved to 23-17 overall and 13-8 in the OVC. Costanzo leads the Governors with a 4.13 ERA and has 70 strikeouts in 61 innings of work this year.
TJ Byrd, Rend Lake CC
Byrd had a huge offensive weekend going 8 for 14 hitting .571 with a homerun, a double and collecting 3 RBI’s. However, Byrd’s nice offensive output wasn’t enough as Rend Lake lost 2 of 3 to Wabash Valley over the weekend to fall to 14-20 overall. Byrd on the year is hitting .336 and has 19 stolen bases.
Justin Kelly, Wayne State
Kelly had himself a big weekend series, going 7-16 hitting .438 with two doubles and 2 homeruns. He scored 6 runs and collected 10 RBI on the weekend as well. Wayne State is now 21-16 on the year.
Ryan Altenberger, Xavier
Altenberger collected a hit in all four games this past week, going 6 for 17 hitting .352 with 4 doubles. Xavier however, lost to Cincinnati in the mid-week game and lost 2 of 3 vs. Creighton on the weekend and slipped to 13-26 overall and 3-6 in the Big East. Altenberger in his freshman year is hitting a steady .252 and leads the team in doubles with 13 on the year.
Louis Niemerg, Maryville
Niemerg continues to impress this season, getting it done on both sides of the ball. In his start on the mound this week he went 5.1 innings giving up 4 earned runs. At the plate he went on a tear. He hit .700 going 7-10 collecting 7 runs, 3 RBI, 4 walks, and even stole a base. Maryville is now 22-20 overall on they year.
Ryan Dunne, Western Illinois
Dunne picked up win in his start vs. North Dakota State this past weekend. Dunne improved to 2-5 on the year after his start vs. NDSU where he went 7 strong innings giving up only 1 earned run on 6 hits and 4 walks while striking out 8. Western Illinois took 2 of 3 vs. NDSU this past weekend and improved to 9-22 overall and 7-7 in the Summit. On the year, Dunne has a 4.17 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 54 innings of work.
Ben Dickey, Northwestern
Dickey had one of his best offensive weeks this past week going 5 for 14, hitting .357 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI’s. However, the Wildcats lost the mid-week game to Milwaukee and got swept by Michigan State over the weekend to fall to 9-24 overall and 1-14 in the Big Ten.
Cal Coughlin, TCU
Coughlin made two relief appearances this past weekend in Big 12 play vs. Baylor. Coughlin in his two relief appearances went a total of 3.2 innings giving up 0 runs on 0 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. However, Coughlin’s efforts weren’t enough as TCU got swept by Baylor over the weekend and fall to 19-17 overall and 6-8 in the Big 12.
Quinn Snarskis, Illinois
Snarskis had a really good outing to help Illinois get their only win this past weekend vs. Grand Canyon. Snarskis registered a No-Decision but threw 6 solid innings giving up only 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5. Illinois climbed into the #25 ranked spot into the nation but lost to Valpo in the mid-week game and lost 2 of 3 vs. Grand Canyon this weekend to slip to 24-11 overall and 9-3 in the Big Ten. Snarskis on the year has 3.40 ERA.
Jacob Nagel, Bellarmine
Nagel was outstanding in his start this past week. He threw a 7 inning complete game shutout against Lewis. He gave up only 3 hits, striking out 6. The win brings his record to 5-2 this season. Bellarmine is now 33-12 overall on the year.
Ryan Hodgett, Bradley
Hodgett picked up a win in relief vs. Robert Morris-Springfield over the weekend, tossing 4 scoreless innings, giving up only 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 5. Bradley won all 3 games they played in this past week to improve to 23-9 overall.
Dalton Parker, Purdue
Parker picked up his 1st win in relief for the year vs. Maryland this past weekend. Parker went 2 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out 2. Purdue beat Indiana State twice in the mid-week games and swept Maryland over the weekend to improve to 19-16 overall and 7-4 in the Big Ten.
Angel Sandoval, St. Francis
Sandoval got another start this week, going up against the Roosevelt Lakers. He was unbeatable going the distance for the victory. He gave up 1 run on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 3 strikeout.
Kevin Coppin, Concordia-Chicago
Coppin saw multiple games behind the plate this week. In his 4 games played he was 5-15 hitting .333 with 3 RBI’s and 2 runs scored. Concordia-Chicago is now 20-8 overall on the season and is poised to make another deep run into the D3 playoffs.
Tyler Lass, Northwestern
Lass pitched 2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen vs. Milwaukee in the mid-week game giving up only 1 hit while striking out 2. The Wildcats played very competitively this past week but lost all four games to fall to 9-24 overall.
Brian Musielak, Concordia-Chicago
Musielak had another strong outing this week. He threw a 7 inning complete game to get the win, and moved to 3-1 on the year with a 3.18 ERA. Musielak gave up only 1 earned run on 7 hits, 0 walks while getting 7 strikeouts.
Jesse Forestell, Western Michigan
Forestell had a really good week going 5 for 16 hitting .313 vs. Michigan State and Central Michigan, collecting two doubles, a triple and 5 RBI’s. Western Michigan lost to Michigan State in the mid-week game but took 2 of 3 vs. Central Michigan to improve to 16-17 overall and 6-7 in the MAC.
Jimmy Burnette, Illinois
Burnette had one of his best outings of the year out of the bullpen vs. Valpo in the mid-week game where he tossed 1.1 innings giving up 0 runs on 2 hits while striking out 2. However, the Fighting Illini lost to Valpo and lost 2 of 3 to Grand Canyon over the weekend.
Bobby Seymour, Wake Forest
Seymour collected 5 hits this past week with one a solo blast into the night vs. #14 ranked Clemson. However, Wake Forest only beat UNCG during the mid-week game and got swept by Clemson over the weekend to slip to 18-23 overall and 10-11 in the ACC. Seymour as a true freshman in second on the Demon Deacons team in batting average at .309, doubles with 8, home runs with 5, and slugging % at .463.
Sean Hjelle, Kentucky
Hjelle pitched well but it wasn’t enough as he took the loss vs. #1 ranked Florida this past weekend. Hjelle went 7 innings giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. Kentucky, who is ranked #7 in the nation lost 2 of 3 vs. Florida and slipped to 26-14 overall and 8-10 in the SEC.
Brady Huffman, Illinois State
Huffman got a No-Decision in his start vs. Missouri State this past weekend going 5 innings giving up 3 runs on on 7 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Illinois State lost all 5 games this past week, including getting swept by Missouri State over the weekend which drops them to 14-22 overall and 4-8 in the MVC.
Hank Christie, Northwestern
Christie had a solid start vs. Michigan State this past weekend but picked up the loss in his efforts slipping him to 2-4 as a starter this year. Christie went 5 innings giving up 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4. Wildcats got swept by Michigan State over the weekend.
Wyatt Trautwein, UIC
Trautwein got the nod for UIC’s midweek game against Viterbo last week. He got the win, going 5 strong innings of 2 hit ball and striking out 6. The victory brings him to 1-1 on the season. UIC is now 20-13 overall on the year.
Max Maney, Carroll
Maney made the switch to the closer role last week, and continues to marvel in that role. Maney picked up 2 saves this weekend vs. Millikin going a total of 2 innings giving up 0 runs on 0 hits while striking out 1. Carroll swept Millikin over the weekend and improved to 16-14 overall.
Mark DiLuia, Maryland
DiLuia got his 1st Friday night Big Ten start this past weekend vs. Purdue. DiLuia a true freshman had mostly been starting mid-week games for the Terps. In his start DiLuia took the loss going 6 innings giving up 4 runs on 8 hits and 5 walks while striking out 4. The Terps got swept by Purdue over the weekend and fall to 16-23 overall and 3-8 in the Big Ten.
Shakur Jackson, Heartland CC
Jackson went 4 for 10, hitting .400 over the weekend with two doubles and 3 RBI’s. Heartland split with Parkland over the weekend.
Welby Malczewski, Auburn
Malczewski made two relief appearances for the Tigers last week. He totaled 3.1 innings pitched, giving up a single earned run and scattering 4 hits. Auburn is now 29-12 overall and 9-9 in the SEC, they swept Alabama over the weekend.
Peyton Isaacson, Saint Leo
Isaacson was at it again this week, showing off his 2-way abilities for St. Leo. Coming out of the pen he recorded 1 save and 1 hold in 2.1 innings pitched. He gave up 1 hit and recorded 3 strikeouts in those two appearances. At the plate he was just as good, recording hits in 2 of the 3 games and drawing walks in all 3 games and racking up 2 more RBI’s. Saint Leo is now 31-9 overall and Isaacson is hitting .353 with a 4.30 ERA and 11 saves on the year.
Michael Schalasky, UIndy
Schalasky had a 2 start week for UIndy. In his first start he went 4.2 innings striking out 4, walking 2, and giving up 2 earned runs en route to getting his 4th win of the season. His second start was nearly the same. He went 4 innings, scattered 5 hits and gave up 3 earned runs, but took a tough luck loss moving his record to 4-3 on the year. UIndy is 24-15 overall on the year.
Tommy Duddleston, Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Duddleston saw more regular action this week. He went 5-17 with a double, a triple, 3 runs scored, 3 RBI, and 1 stolen base. Wisconsin-Stevens Point is now 18-5 overall and Duddleston has the best average on the team, hitting .374 on the year.
Keaton Rice, Bradley
Rice, Bradley’s everyday starter behind the plate got a little rest this past week only having to start one game vs. Robert Morris-Springfield. In that one game, he continues to impress as a true freshman going 2 for 5. Bradley beat Western Illinois in the mid-week game and took two games from Robert Morris-Springfield this past weekend to improve to 23-9 overall and 7-2 in the MVC. On the year, Rice is hitting .349, good enough for 3rd on his team.
Marius Balandis, Iowa Western CC
Balandis moved to 6-0 on the year, picking up the win vs. Indian Hills CC over the weekend. Balandis went 4 innings in his start giving up 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4. Iowa Western swept Indian Hills over the weekend and improved to 37-5 overall on the year.
Michael Kruse, Benedictine (KS)
Kruse did not have his best stuff on the mound this week, but prevailed with a victory nonetheless. He went 5.2 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 10 hits and 3 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Nick Menken, Virginia Tech
Menken collected 5 hits this past week with three of them being doubles. Virginia Tech lost 2 of 3 vs. Notre Dame on the weekend and slipped to 17-23 overall and 7-14 in the ACC.
Cooper Johnson, Ole Miss
Johnson went 1 for 3 vs. Arkansas State in the mid-week game this past week, and went 0-2 with 2 walks in the weekend series vs. #12 ranked Georgia. Johnson continues to be stellar behind the plate as one of the best defensive catchers in the country for his #7 ranked Rebels. Ole Miss beat Arkansas State in the mid-week game and took 2 of 3 from Georgia to improve to 32-9 overall and 10-8 in the SEC.
Dalton Hottle, Lewis
Hottle made 2 relief appearances this weekend. He recorded 1 save over 1.2 innings, giving up 0 runs on 1 walk and 1 strikeout. Lewis is now 16-22-1 overall on the year.
Neil Lambert, Bowling Green
Lambert collected 3 hits this past weekend vs. Ball State with a homerun and 3 RBI’s. However, Bowling Green lost 2 of 3 vs. Ball State to fall to 10-25 overall and 5-8 in the MAC.
Luke Becchina, St. Ambrose
Becchina got his first win of the season this week. He came out of the pen and went 2.1 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits and 2 walks, and 1 strikeout against Indiana South Bend.
Kolton Rominski, Hillsdale
Rominski made one relief appearance and one start this week. The relief appearance he came in to face one batter in a high leverage situation and struck him out. In his start he was on the wrong end of defeat despite a quality start. He went 5 innings, scattered 7 hits giving up 2 earned runs on 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. Hillsdale is now 18-22 overall on the year.
Nate Tholl, Webster
Tholl had an impressive week, seeing regular action in 6 games over the week. He finished the week going 5-19 with 3 doubles, 5 runs scored, 2 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. Webster is now 24-7 overall and poised to make a deep season run into the playoffs again.
Michael Bieterman, Heartland CC
Bieterman in his two starts this past weekend went 3 for 4 and continues to be a solid performer for the Hawks.
Zach Taylor, Roosevelt
Taylor saw action in all 3 games this past weekend for the Lakers. He collected hits in two out of three games, scoring a run and compiling 2 walks as well.
Andrew Padilla, Webster
Padilla saw action out of the bullpen this week. He threw 1 inning of perfect baseball, recording 1 strikeout. Webster in now 24-7 overall.
Dave Navarro, Illinois Institute of Technology
Navarro, a true freshman, saw plenty of game action this week. He made 2 starts and appeared in 3 games, scoring 3 runs on 1-5 hitting as well as drawing 4 walks. IIT is now 11-16 overall on the year.
Trevor Taus, Ohio Wesleyan
Taus saw multiple game action this past week. He started 2 out of 3 and also made an appearance as a pinch runner. He collected 2 RBI, and scored 3 runs, and managed to steal a bag as well.
Gunnar Haskins, Augustana
Haskins saw his normal playing time this week for Augustana. Haskins collected 6 hits on the week while tallying 3 walks and 2 RBI’s. Augustana is now 20-10 overall on the year.
