Baseball Weekly Report - March 1
Rob Washburn
CAA BASEBALL WEEKLY REPORT - MARCH 1 (PDF format)
CAA BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Brian Mims, UNCW
So., IF, Montclair, Va./Forest Park
Mims batted .700 (7-10) with three doubles, a homer, five runs scored and 10 RBI’s in UNCW’s 3-0 week. The sophomore infielder had at least two hits in all three games, including going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and six RBI’s in a victory over South Dakota State. The six RBI’s were the most by a Seahawks’ player since 2010. Mims has had a hit in all six contests this season and is batting a league-best .522.
CAA BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK:
Nathan Helvey, College of Charleston
Sr., RHP, Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill
Helvey allowed just two hits over 5.1 shutout innings and earned the win as College of Charleston knocked off 10th-ranked Florida State, 2-1, last Friday. The senior right-hander didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning and struck out three. He hasn’t allowed a run over 11.1 innings to start the season.
CAA BASEBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Mason Daniels, Elon
Fr., RHP, Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln
Daniels gave up just one unearned run on one hit and struck out nine over 5.0 innings to gain the victory as Elon defeated La Salle, 10-3, on Sunday. The freshman right-hander fanned two batters in four of his five frames and allowed just a single to record his first collegiate win. The Phoenix had a school-record 18 strikeouts in the game.
CAA BASEBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Adam Rapp, Delaware
Fr., C, Burlington, N.J./Northern Burlington
Rapp batted .429 with a double, a homer, two runs scored and four RBI in two games for the Blue Hens. The freshman catcher had a key two-run double in the 8th inning as Delaware defeated Virginia Tech, 7-6, for its first win over an ACC opponent since 2012. He was also 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the Blue Hens’ 10-4 setback to host ODU.
DIAMOND NOTES:
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (3-3)
The Cougars went 1-2 in their series at 10th-ranked Florida State. CofC captured Friday’s opener, 2-1, as senior Nathan Helvey limited the Noles to just two hits over 5.1 shutout innings to get the win. Catcher Erven Roper was 2-for-2 and scored both runs, while Morgan Phillips also had two hits in the victory. First baseman Bradley Jones homered in each of the final two games of the series and has three on the year. The bottom two hitters in the CofC lineup - Tommy Richter and Luke Manzo - combined to go 4-for-7 in Saturday’s 8-3 setback. CofC has five games this week, including a home contest vs. #18 Coastal Carolina and a 3-game series against rival The Citadel.
DELAWARE (3-3)
The Blue Hens opened the ODU Tournament with a 7-6 victory over Virginia Tech, but fell to Manhattan (10-2) and the host Monarchs (10-4). Kevin Mohollen and Doug Trimble each had two hits and freshman Adam Rapp had a key two-run double in the 8th against Virginia Tech as UD beat an ACC foe for the first time since 2012. Pitcher Ron Marinaccio improved to 2-0 after limiting the Hokies to three runs on six hits over 5.0 innings and striking out eight. Jordan Glover was 2-for-4 against Manhattan, while Rapp was 2-for-3 with two RBI versus ODU. UD hosts Maryland on Tuesday and then welcomes Delaware State and UMass Lowell for the Bob Hannah Invitational this weekend.
ELON (3-5)
The Phoenix capped a 3-1 week with a three-game sweep of La Salle. Junior outfielder Kyle Jackson had a big week offensively, batting .563 (9-16) with multiple hits in all four contests. He homered three times, scored five runs and drove in seven. Outfielder Nick Zammarelli was 2-for-4 and scored twice in the first game of the La Salle series and hit homers in the final two games. The Elon pitching staff combined for a school-record 18 strikeouts in Sunday’s series finale. Freshman starter Mason Daniels fanned nine over the first five frames and five other hurlers combined for the other nine. Daniels gave up just one hit and an unearned run. Elon travels to #16 East Carolina before hosting Bowling Green, Stony Brook and Applaachian State in the Elon Invitational.
HOFSTRA (0-7)
The Pride dropped all four games of a weekend series at SEC foe Missouri. Hofstra led the Tigers 2-1 in the ninth on Sunday before falling 3-2 in 10 innings. Starting pitcher Bowie Matteson was outstanding, allowing just one run on four hits over 7.0 innings. He struck out three and didn’t issue a walk. In the opener, Chris Weiss gave just one earned run and four hits over five frames. Freshman John Rooney tossed four innings of one-run relief. Offensively, Brad Witkowski batted .385, while David Leiderman batted .313 and drove in four. Hofstra has a three-game series at Coppin State this weekend.
JAMES MADISON (2-5)
The Dukes were swept in a three-game series at perennial power Clemson last weekend. JMU was limited to four runs against the Tigers. Shortstop Chad Carroll was 5-for-13 with a pair of hits in the final two games. He also stole two bases. Carroll is batting a team-best .323 for the season. Outfielder Adam Sisk had a hit in each contest and homered on Sunday. JMU visits George Washington on Tuesday before entertaining UMBC in a three-game homestand over the weekend.
UNCW (6-0)
The Seahawks remained undefeated after beating South Dakota State (15-5), Eastern Kentucky (10-7) and VCU (11-4) at the Hughes Bros. Classic. UNCW has scored double-digit runs in all six games and has 79 runs this season. Brian Mims batted .700 (7-10) with three doubles a homer and 10 RBI’s. He drove in six vs. SDSU, which was the most by a UNCW player since 2010. Gavin Stupienski extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Robbie Thorburn was 4-for-4 and scored three times vs. VCU, while Steven Linkous was 3-for-3 and drove in two. Zack Canada was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer against EKU. Austin Easter threw 3.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen and fanned five. UNCW visits N.C. State and hosts Penn State in a 3-game series this weekend.
NORTHEASTERN (4-4)
The Huskies split a competitive four-game series at Abilene Christian with all four games being decided by one run. NU’s pitching was excellent. Aaron Civale moved to 2-0 after giving up just two runs over 8.0 innings and striking out six in winning the opener, 3-2. Dustin Hunt allowed just one run on five hits and fanned eight on Saturday, but suffered a 1-0 loss. Closer Mike Fitzgerald save both victories with 3.0 shutout innings. Offensively, Pat Madigan hit his first homer of the season in Saturday’s second game. In Sunday’s 4-3 win, Keith Kelly and Shane Allen each had two hits and Max Burt drove in two. NU meets Cornell in a three-game series this weekend in Florida.
TOWSON (0-6)
The Tigers suffered three setbacks at Presbyterian over the weekend. Offensively, second baseman Colin Dyer had a hit in each game, including a homer in Friday’s 7-5 loss. Third baseman Brady Policelli had a pair of hits on Saturday and Sunday. Outfielder Colin Gimblet and first baseman Richard Miller each had three-hit performances on Friday. Towson heads to Winston-Salem, N.C. this weekend where it faces Richmond, Harvard and host Wake Forest.
WILLIAM & MARY (5-2)
The Tribe went 3-1 last week, including a three-game weekend sweep of Holy Cross. W&M rallied for a 12-11 victory in Sunday’s finale as Cullen Large smacked a 3-run homer in the seventh. He batted .353 and drove in five for the week. Charley Gould was 3-for-3 with three runs scored in Sunday’s contest and drove in a pair of runs in Saturday’s 6-5 win. Ryan Hall, Charles Ameer and Ryder Miconi all homered in Friday’s 8-5 triumph. Closer Joseph Gaouette saved a pair of games in the series and has three for the season. W&M meets nationally ranked Virginia on Tuesday before heading west to face Oregon State and San Diego.