Six Teams Set To Battle For 2024 CAA Baseball Championship
Rob Washburn
CAA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
RICHMOND, Va. (May 21, 2024) – The 2024 CAA Baseball Championship gets underway on Wednesday from Brooks Field on the campus of UNCW in Wilmington, N.C. It’s the 15
th time that the event has been held at Brooks Field, but first since 2021.
Six teams will battle for the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament using a format that rewards the top two seeds with first-round byes. Ten different schools have won the CAA championship since 2009, with UNCW (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023) being the only team to earn more than one title during that 15-year stretch.
The double-elimination tournament opens at Noon on Wednesday as #4 Delaware (29-24, 16-11 CAA) faces #5 William & Mary (30-24, 13-14 CAA). That game will be followed at 4 p.m. by #3 Northeastern (38-15, 18-9 CAA) taking on #6 Hofstra (23-31, 13-14 in CAA).
Thursday’s schedule begins with an 11 a.m. elimination game. Top-seeded Charleston (39-12, 21-5 CAA) meets the lowest-seeded Game 1/2 winner at 3 p.m. and #2 UNCW (36-19, 20-7 CAA) takes on the highest-seeded Game 1/2 winner at 7 p.m. There are three more games on Friday and another on Saturday, setting the stage for the championship contest at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Charleston is the top seed after capturing its second CAA regular-season title in three years by winning 20 of its final 23 conference games. The Cougars have qualified for all 10 CAA Tournaments and captured their lone championship in 2014. Charleston ranks 9
th nationally with a 4.03 team ERA and features a trio of quality starting pitchers in Jake Brink (8-2), Connor Campbell (8-2) and Aidan Hunter (6-1) along with the league’s save leader (11) in Davis Aiken. Offensively, the Cougars have five starters batting over .300 and four with double-digit home runs. Leading the lineup are Cole Mathis (.339, 14 HR, 54 RBI’s), Kevin Madden (.327, 12 HR, 45 RBI’s), Avery Neaves (.330, 13 HR, 38 RBI’s) and Cole Singsank (.297, 18 HR, 54 RBI’s).
Second-seeded UNCW is the defending conference champion and has won five CAA titles since 2012. The Seahawks have earned a berth in all 38 CAA Tournaments and have reached the championship game in seven of the past eight tournaments. The UNCW lineup features many of the key performers from a year ago, including Trevor Marsh (.357, 14 HR, 45 RBI’s), Tanner Thach (.321, 26 HR, 70 RBI’s) and Jac Croom (.292, 9 HR, 39 RBI’s). On the mound, starters RJ Sales (9-3) and Zane Taylor (5-0) anchor a starting staff in front of a deep bullpen led by Luke Craig (4-1, 5 saves).
Northeastern, which won the CAA title in 2021, is making its 11
th consecutive tournament appearance and has reached the championship game in four of the last five years. The Huskies are batting a league-best .311 and rank third nationally with 156 stolen bases. The NU offense features two of the nation’s top six players in RBI’s with first baseman Tyler MacGregor (.406, 19 HR, 80 RBI’s) and outfielder Alex Lane (.382, 17 HR, 78 RBI’s). Veterans Luke Beckstein (.318) and Mike Sirota (.296) have plenty of tournament experience. The Huskies’ pitching staff is anchored by Wyatt Scotti (7-5) and Jake Gigliotti (6-2). Jack Beauchesne (2-1, 5 saves) is the team’s closer.
Delaware, which won its only CAA title in 2017, makes its second straight tournament appearance. The Blue Hens have a potent lineup that has belted 97 home runs. Topping the lineup are Aaron Graeber (.310, 12 HR, 47 RBI’s), Eric Ludman (.269, 15 HR, 42 RBI’s), Bryce Greenly (.309, 9 HR, 40 RBI’s) and Joey Loynd (.261, 12 HR, 52 RBI’s). The Hens’ pitching staff includes starter Doug Marose (3-2) and Ethan Shaub (3-2), with Anthony Gubitosi (2-1, 4 saves) and Eli Atiya (4-2, 2 saves) in the bullpen.
William & Mary is making its 10
th tournament appearance in the last 11 years, with its most recent CAA championship in 2016. The Tribe has a 4.52 team and has set a program record with 531 strikeouts. Nate Knowles (7-3, 2.22 ERA) tops the starting staff with Zack Potts (6-4, 3.36 ERA). The bullpen is deep with Carter Lovasz (6 saves), Owen Pierce (5 saves) and Mark Hindy (5-3). Offensively, W&M is led by the outfield duo of Ben Parker (.348, 10 HR, 45 RBI’s) and Joe Delossantos (.324, 13 HR, 59 RBI’s).
Hofstra returns to the CAA Tournament after capturing its first conference title in 2022. The Pride, which went 10-5 in its final 15 league games, ranks third in the CAA with a .293 team batting average and has six starters hitting over .300. Dylan Palmer (.382, 30 RBI’s) and Steve Harrington (.316) lead the attack along with Alex McCoy (.301, 11 HR, 44 RBI’s) and Santino Rosso (.303, 9 HR, 46 RBI’s). On the mound, Carlos Martinez (6-4) and Michael O’Hanlon (6-4) are Hofstra’s top starters and closer Mike McKenna ranks second in the CAA with 10 saves.
All games of the CAA Baseball Championship will be streamed live on
FloBaseball.tv (flosports.tv/caa). To stay up to date with what is happening be sure to follow the CAA on Twitter (@CAASports), Instagram (@caasports) and join the conversation using the hashtag #CAAChamps.
For tickets, live results, recaps, and more, visit
CAASports.com/baseball.
2024 CAA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ballpark at Patriots Point – Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Wednesday, May 22
Game 1 - #4 Delaware vs. #5 William & Mary – 12 pm
Game 2 - #3 Northeastern vs. #6 Hofstra – 4 pm
Thursday, May 23
Game 3 – Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser – 11 am
Game 4 - #1 Charleston vs. Lowest-seeded Game 1/2 winner – 3 pm
Game 5 - #2 UNCW vs. Highest-seeded Game 1/2 winner – 7 pm
Friday May 24
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Lowest seeded Game 4/5 loser – 11 am
Game 7 - Game 6 winner vs. Highest seeded Game 4/5 loser – 3 pm
Game 8 – Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner – 7 pm
Saturday, May 25
Game 9 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser – 1 pm
Game 10 - Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner – 5 pm
Sunday, May 26
Game 11 (if necessary) – Game 10 winner vs. Game 10 loser – 1 pm