by Eamonn Ryan
When 2022 Whitecaps teammates Cam Fisher and Carson DeMartini reunite this weekend, the two won’t be sporting Brewster across their chest — they’ll be facing off in a non-conference showdown between Fisher’s UNC Charlotte 49ers (5-4) and DeMartini’s Virginia Tech Hokies (6-2).
The two stars will be focal points of this three-game series. Fisher has slugged for a gaudy 1.468 OPS and five home runs, while DeMartini has lit up opposing pitchers for a 1.078 OPS and a grand slam.
Fisher is on a tear, as all his five homers have come in his last three games. He knocked out two against UNC Asheville on Tuesday, Feb. 28, one against Army on Sunday, Feb. 26 and two more against Army on Saturday, Feb. 25.
Undefeated Wolfpack still howling
After a 3-0 weekend and a sweep over Belmont, sophomore shortstop Payton Green was named the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week. Green drove in eight runs, going 5-for-16 with a stolen base, two doubles and three home runs, including a grand slam, for the Wolfpack (9-0).
Among ‘Caps standouts recently have been righty freshman Andrew Shaffner, who has pitched three shutout innings for the Wolfpack so far. Switch-hitting sophomore catcher Jacob Cozart has been hot at the plate, hitting .364 through eight games with 11 RBI and two home runs, and lefty starter Dom Fritton has two wins on the season, going 6.1 innings in his second collegiate start and giving up one run while striking out six.
Two is indeed more than one
Righty infielder/pitcher Patrick Forbes hit his first home run with No. 4 Louisville (7-1) in the second inning of their 11-0 win over Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, Feb. 28. Just two innings later, Forbes hit his second career home run and gave the Cardinals a 6-0 lead. He’s 6-for-11 on the season with six runs and six RBI.
Florida State (7-1) outfielder Jaime Ferrer had the same idea as Forbes just three days earlier, as the sophomore mashed two home runs in the Seminoles’ 10-8 win over TCU.
West headed in right direction
Boston College (5-1) junior righty John West has started the season off with seven innings pitched over two games, giving up just two hits and one earned run while striking out nine.
Sadie Parker, Mark Mincolelli, and Chris Kenney contributed to this report.