Baseball | February 14, 2019

PHILADELPHIA – This weekend the La Salle University baseball team will begin its second season under head coach David Miller, as the Explorers travel to South Carolina to take on Charleston Southern. The Explorers will open the 2019 season with three games against the Buccaneers.
 
LOOKING BACK ON 2018

• The 2018 season saw a learning curve for the Explorers, who showed flashes of excellence at times, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
• La Salle's hitters had 100 more hits, 80 more runs, 69 more RBIs, 44 more walks and 34 more stolen bases under Miller's guidance in 2018 compared to 2017.

IMPACT HITTERS TO WATCH

• Senior Ben Faso is back after a big season a year ago, culminating in Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year and All-Atlantic 10 honors. Faso ended the year tied for fifth in single season program history with 75 hits and seventh in doubles with 17. He was second in the Atlantic 10 with a .347 average and led the team with 36 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
• Senior Peyton Sorrels will look to continue where he left off at the plate during the second half of last season. Sorrels hit .308 in A-10 play and slugged four triples. The second baseman batted .389 and scored 11 runs over his final 22 games.
• Junior slugger Ryan Guckin provided power to the middle of La Salle's lineup last year and was rewarded with All-Big 5 accolades. He led the team with four home runs and was second on the squad with 12 doubles and a .437 slugging percentage.
• The Explorers will have plenty of options at the dish with a mix of veterans and young guys. Sophomore infielder Tommy Toal provides versatility and batted .289 with a .391 on-base percentage as a rookie. Senior Kevin McGowan will aim to get on track after a strong summer, and outfielder Dylan Evans returns after hitting 11 doubles a year ago.

IMPACT PITCHERS TO WATCH

• Junior Jackson Ray hit his stride last season and became the Explorers' most reliable starting pitcher. The left-hander led the team in innings pitched (63.1) and starts (11) while combining for two shutouts and striking out 43.
• Matt Holt looks to be the power arm the Explorers need this season after splitting time as a starter and reliever a season ago. Holt also combined for two shutouts over 13 appearances as a sophomore.
• Junior Niko Jenkins came into his own last year with a 2.63 ERA and will give the Explorers a reliable option as a reliever or starter when called upon. Senior Mike Anthony made 18 appearances last year and worked a 3-1 record, while Sebastian Martinez led the team with a 4-0 record out of the bullpen.

ROOKIES READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT

• La Salle's freshman class was tabbed as the 73rd best recruiting class in the nation by Perfect Game, with a number of guys who will contribute out of the gate.
• Nick O'Day was ranked inside Perfect Game's 2018 list of top 250 prospects and was recently selected as Baseball America's choice for A-10 Freshman of the Year. O'Day will look to make an immediate impact at third base and as a utility player who can also pitch.
• Quentin Brown joined O'Day as a member of D1Baseball's list of Impact Freshmen in the A-10. The center fielder hit .537 with seven homers last year at Williamsport High School.
• Catcher Matt Rivera batted .597 with seven long balls last year and will have the opportunity to anchor La Salle behind the plate. Nick Hopkins will also provide athleticism to the middle infield as a switch hitter, and Ross Mulhall joins the squad after earning West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior.
• On the mound, Aidan Frye will have the chance to solidify his role as an immediate starter in the rotation, while Nick Hohenstein adds to a bullpen full of young arms ready to contribute.

SERIES INFO

• Game 1: Friday – 6 p.m. | Holt vs. Weekley | LIVE STATS
• Game 2: Saturday – 4 p.m. | Ray vs. Weinberger | LIVE STATS
• Game 3: Sunday – 1 p.m. | Frye vs. Bennett | LIVE STATS

SCOUTING CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

• The Buccaneers went 19-35 overall and 10-17 in the Big South last year.
• Catcher Christian Maggio batted .288, while outfielder Josh Litchfield hit .273 with 17 runs scored. Infielder Jason Miller owns a .305 career batting average and scored 24 runs last year.
• On the hill, Tyler Weekley went 4-7 with a 3.87 ERA and 64 strikeouts, while Cody Maw was 3-2 with a 3.52 ERA and 49 strikeouts.