by Eamonn Ryan, Sadie Parker, Mark Rappaport, Mark Mincolelli and Evan Roberts
Happy college baseball season! We’re just 109 days away from opening day at Stony Brook Field on June 10, and it’s never too early to get a look at who is suiting up for the Whitecaps this season.
We’ll be updating this a few times throughout the spring season to highlight the next batch of ‘Caps before they hit the road to Brewster.
How sweep it is to kick off the season
LSU freshman catcher Jared Jones helped the top-ranked Tigers to a sweep over Western Michigan in the opening weekend, going 4-for-8 with two doubles and three RBI. Clemson sophomore right-hander Austin Gordon made his first start of the year and went five innings, striking out two and giving up just one run in the Tigers’ win over Binghamton on Saturday, Feb. 18. The Tigers swept Binghamton.
Wolfpack arms keep clean sheets in first appearances
Lefty freshman Dominic Fritton got the Sunday start in NC State’s 9-0 win over Wagner. He tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out two and allowing a just a single hit. In relief in that same game, righty freshman Andrew Shaffner made his debut, striking out two batters and shutting Wagner out to close out a sweep of Wagner.
It’s already heating up in Florida
Freshman D’Angelo Ortiz of Miami Dade College has hit .327 through 15 games and leads the Sharks (9-6-1) — who began their season two weeks ago — in RBI with 15. Florida right-handed freshman pitcher Fisher Jameson tossed 1 1/3 perfect innings on opening day to help the Gators (3-0) complete a sweep over Charleston Southern. Sophomore outfielder Jaime Ferrer pushed his Florida State Seminoles to a sweep over James Madison, going 4-of-11 with three RBI.
Liggett opens season with win
Sophomore starter Carson Liggett of Louisville went five innings, allowing two runs while striking out six batters and pitching a perfect second inning in the Cardinals’ 5-3 win over Bucknell on Sunday, Feb. 19.
Diaz shines against tough opening weekend slate
Vanderbilt sophomore infielder Davis Diaz hit a triple in the Commodore’s 11-4 loss to No. 16 TCU Friday, Feb. 17 and got on base three times in their 12-2 win over Texas Sunday, Feb. 19.