Tech will open C-USA play at home tonight against Southern Miss. Southern Miss enters the series at 8-6 overall, which is far cry from where they expected to be I’m sure.
That said, Southern Miss is the top dog in the league until someone knows them off. D1 Baseball has them making a regional once again in 2019.
D1 Baseball picked OF/P Matt Wallner as the C-USA Player of the Year. Wallner was expected to be their ace on the mound, but he has not pitched this year due to a forearm issue. At the plate, he’s hitting .240 with 2 home runs and 12 RBI. He’s a big left-handed hitter with tremendous power. He is also the top draft prospect in C-USA.
The Golden Eagle has talent all over the place with as many as 10 future MLB Draft picks on the team.
They’ll trot out RHP Walker Powell (1-0, 0.96 ERA), LHP Stevie Powers (2-2, 4.85 ERA), and LHP Adam Jackson (0-0, 0.77 ERA).
Walker is a big 6’5 kid that doesn’t have great stuff by any means, but he uses a nice three pitch mix to get hitters out. He’ll work in the upper 80s. He’s only walked 3 guys in 18.2 innings of work.
Powers is a command left-hander, mid to upper 80s. He’ll use a four pitch mix. He’s another guy that doesn’t walk anyone with only 2 walks in 13 innings.
Jackson will be making just his second start of the season, but he’s been successful and is a senior.
None of their three starters strike guys out at an alarming rate, but they make you earn everything you get by walking no one.
In the bullpen, JC Keys and Cody Carroll are the top guys. Keys is a guy that can touch 95 with his heater while also using a power curveball. He will walk guys. Carroll is just reliable. No other way to put it. They like to use him for multiple innings.
Hunter Stanley is another bullpen arm that will be 90-94.
FR Gabe Shepard should see some time as well. He’s electric, up to 95 at times with his fastball.
As a team, Scott Berry’s squad has pitched to a 3.12 ERA over 129.2 innings.
Looking at their lineup, this is where they have had some issues this season. They are hitting only .251 as a team while averaging 4.9 yards per game.
OF Gabe Montenegro (.327) and 1B Hunter Slater (.309) are the only two regulars hitting north of .300.
C Cole Donaldson is a very light hitting catcher at .257 with only four extra base hits, and he has also allowed 9 stolen bases on 13 attempts. Captain Shreve product, Bryant Bowen will be his back-up. Bowen has 19 at bats and is hitting .316.
CF Fred Franklin is getting on base at a .340 clip, but when he gets on he steals bases. He’s 7/7 so far this year. He’s the one speed guy to pay attention to.
Danny Lynch and Hunter LeBlanc were two freshman that were expected to have a major impact. However, both have struggled in the early going with Lynch hitting only .214 and LeBlanc only .167. Lynch should start at 3B.
Slater and Wallner lead the team with two home runs.
Matt Miller, Logan Robbins, and Logan Bailey will get the starts for Tech on the bump.
Tech was the only team to beat USM in a series a season ago.
That said, Southern Miss is the top dog in the league until someone knows them off. D1 Baseball has them making a regional once again in 2019.
D1 Baseball picked OF/P Matt Wallner as the C-USA Player of the Year. Wallner was expected to be their ace on the mound, but he has not pitched this year due to a forearm issue. At the plate, he’s hitting .240 with 2 home runs and 12 RBI. He’s a big left-handed hitter with tremendous power. He is also the top draft prospect in C-USA.
The Golden Eagle has talent all over the place with as many as 10 future MLB Draft picks on the team.
They’ll trot out RHP Walker Powell (1-0, 0.96 ERA), LHP Stevie Powers (2-2, 4.85 ERA), and LHP Adam Jackson (0-0, 0.77 ERA).
Walker is a big 6’5 kid that doesn’t have great stuff by any means, but he uses a nice three pitch mix to get hitters out. He’ll work in the upper 80s. He’s only walked 3 guys in 18.2 innings of work.
Powers is a command left-hander, mid to upper 80s. He’ll use a four pitch mix. He’s another guy that doesn’t walk anyone with only 2 walks in 13 innings.
Jackson will be making just his second start of the season, but he’s been successful and is a senior.
None of their three starters strike guys out at an alarming rate, but they make you earn everything you get by walking no one.
In the bullpen, JC Keys and Cody Carroll are the top guys. Keys is a guy that can touch 95 with his heater while also using a power curveball. He will walk guys. Carroll is just reliable. No other way to put it. They like to use him for multiple innings.
Hunter Stanley is another bullpen arm that will be 90-94.
FR Gabe Shepard should see some time as well. He’s electric, up to 95 at times with his fastball.
As a team, Scott Berry’s squad has pitched to a 3.12 ERA over 129.2 innings.
Looking at their lineup, this is where they have had some issues this season. They are hitting only .251 as a team while averaging 4.9 yards per game.
OF Gabe Montenegro (.327) and 1B Hunter Slater (.309) are the only two regulars hitting north of .300.
C Cole Donaldson is a very light hitting catcher at .257 with only four extra base hits, and he has also allowed 9 stolen bases on 13 attempts. Captain Shreve product, Bryant Bowen will be his back-up. Bowen has 19 at bats and is hitting .316.
CF Fred Franklin is getting on base at a .340 clip, but when he gets on he steals bases. He’s 7/7 so far this year. He’s the one speed guy to pay attention to.
Danny Lynch and Hunter LeBlanc were two freshman that were expected to have a major impact. However, both have struggled in the early going with Lynch hitting only .214 and LeBlanc only .167. Lynch should start at 3B.
Slater and Wallner lead the team with two home runs.
Matt Miller, Logan Robbins, and Logan Bailey will get the starts for Tech on the bump.
Tech was the only team to beat USM in a series a season ago.
