Schedule
Hillsdale College (0-0) at Lee (0-0) | 1 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 4 | Larry Carpenter Stadium – Cleveland, TN
Hillsdale College (0-0) at Lee (0-0) | 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 4 | Larry Carpenter Stadium – Cleveland, TN
Hillsdale College (0-0) vs Lee (0-0) | 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 5 | Larry Carpenter Stadium – Cleveland, TN
Links
Hillsdale Roster | Lee Roster | 2022 Hillsdale Stats | 2022 Lee Stats | G-MAC Standings | G-MAC Stats
Preview
The Hillsdale College baseball team begins a promising 2023 campaign with a road trip to Tennessee to take on host Lee University in a three game series this weekend.
Entering the second year under head coach Tom Vessella, Hillsdale is coming off a season that saw them just miss the G-MAC Tournament, but the Chargers will aim high this season with eight of their nine every-day hitters, their four starting pitchers and top reliever all returning from 2022.
Hillsdale has a tough first opponent in the Flames, who went 33-24 last year, won the Gulf South Conference tournament title, and reached a NCAA DII South Regional final. Lee enters the 2023 season ranked 11th in the nation the Collegiate Baseball DII Preseason Poll, and 18th in the NCBWA DII Preseason Poll.
Lee is led at the plate by its outfielders coming off of big 2022 campaigns, led by junior Dylan Standifer, who was second-team All-GSC last season, hitting .356 with seven home runs and 59 RBIs. Fellow junior Brandon Daniels was almost as good, hitting .335 with five home runs and 27 RBIs as well, and speedy Nate Bynum returns after hitting .304 as well.
Along with those three players, the Flames also have good options at first base, splitting between power hitters Cam Suto and Matthew Batts, both of whom had strong performances in 2022, and also return catcher and Miami (FL) transfer Isaac Quinones to the lineup as well. Lee also adds two impact transfers to the lineup in third baseman Josiah Miller, from Coastal Alabama Junior College, and shortstop Noah Hattier, from Tennessee Tech.
While Lee's offense was strong last year, it was a young pitching staff that got the Flames over the top in the GSC, and many of those arms return in 2023. Jack Nedrow was the GSC Freshman of the Year with a 9-4 record, a 4.04 ERA and 71 strikeouts, but 6-10 righthander Sam Fulton was every bit as effective out of the bullpen, with a 7-3 record, 3.39 ERA and 54 batters retired. The Flames also return another starter in Cameron Land and another strong relief arm in Hunter Lane, while also adding three pitchers who are transferring from Division I schools – Frankie Volkers (Eastern Michigan), Keegan Gagliardo (Illinois State) and David White (Georgia State).
The Chargers also have a lot of continuity to build on offensively. Hillsdale returns both a consensus All-American in junior shortstop Aidan Brewer, who hit .435 with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 50 RBIs last year, and an Academic All-American in outfielder Lewis Beals, who hit .378 with nine doubles, 14 home runs and 44 RBIs despite missing 10 games with an injury.
Also back are power-hitting first baseman Jeff Landis, who put up eight home runs and 43 RBIs last season, as well as hard-hitting outfielder Joe Hardenbergh and leadoff hitter and third baseman Cody Kanclerz.
Hillsdale also has a defensive wizard in the outfield back in Danny Passinault, as well as second baseman Nick Stepke, who is entering his third season as a starter. The Chargers bring back both halves of their catcher platoon in Sean Nemetz and Jaekob Sallee, and are hoping for breakout sophomore seasons for Zak Kent and Will Shannon, who showed promise in part-time roles last year.
On the mound, ace Will Gifford returns for the Chargers after going 6-4 with a 4.24 ERA and an impressive 67 strikeouts last season. Hillsdale also brings back Paul Brophy, Tommy MacLean and Drew Olssen, all of whom are coming off potential-laden first seasons as starting pitchers in 2022, and who will be looking to break out with a year of experience under their belts.
In the bullpen, Hillsdale has one of the G-MAC's top closers in Zane Barnhart, who recorded six saves and a team-leading 2.21 ERA while posting 14.16 strikeouts per nine innings, to head an experienced bullpen staff looking to make big improvements from 2022.
This is the first meeting between Hillsdale and Lee since both schools joined the NCAA Division II ranks.