Baseball Opens Season Against Delaware State

Friday, February 15

Charleston, S.C.

4 p.m.

The Citadel

Delaware State

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Baseball Opens Season Against Delaware State

2/14/2019 10:09:00 AM | Baseball

GAME NOTES | TICKETS

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel opens the 2019 season with a three-game series against Delaware State Feb. 15-17. The season opener is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch, with a 2 p.m. start scheduled for Saturday and a 1 p.m. start for the series finale on Sunday.

Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, February 15 | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
RHP Jordan Merritt (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Garrett Lawson (0-0, 0.00 ERA

Saturday, February 16 | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
LHP Shane Connolly (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Sean McGrath (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Sunday, February 17 | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
RHP Dylan Spence (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Darnell Maisonet (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Ticket Information
Tickets for all home games are available on CitadelSports.com/tickets or by calling the box office at 843-953-DOGS. Tickets will also be available at the stadium box office starting one hour before first pitch.

Weekend Weather
Temperatures will be near 70 degrees all weekend, but a chance of rain exists all three days.

Series History vs. Delaware State
The Bulldogs and Hornets are meeting for the second time in the last three seasons. The two teams met during the 2017 season with the Bulldogs winning the series. The Citadel got dominating pitching to win the series opener and then walked off the Saturday contest.

Season Openers
The Bulldogs are 27-27 in season openers dating back to 1965.

Opening at Home
The Bulldogs will open the season at home for the 13th-straight season. The Citadel is 7-5 in the previous openers over that stretch.

Familiarity With the Hornets
The weekend marks the second time in the past three seasons the team's will meet on the diamond. Three hitters played in all three games with Bryce Leasure going 4-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored. Ben Peden hit safely in all three games.

Control the Run Game
Catcher Bryce Leasure is one of the best at controlling the running game. Last season, Leasure threw out a conference-best 22 potential base stealers.

Two-Sport Athletes
The Bulldogs roster features a pair of two-sport athletes in Lane Botkin and Ryan McCarthy. Both players are also members of the football team.

Young Up the Middle
The Citadel's infield will be very young up the middle as it features redshirt freshman shortstop Tilo Skole and true freshman Tyler Corbitt at second base.

Buster Climbs Appearance List
Senior Jordan Buster currently ranks 17th on the school's all-time appearance list. He is averaging just over 27 appearances per season. He is on pace to become the 7th pitcher with 100 career appearances
Appearances
140   Zach Sherrill   2012-15
135   Raymond Copenhaver   2007-10
115   Ross White   2012-15
112   Tom Martin   1995-98
108   Matt Hamer   1999-03
103   Matt Reifsnider   2007-10
98   Donald Morillo   1992-95
96   Zach Lavery   2014-
95   Skylar Hunter   2013-15
94   Justin Smith   2004-07
94   Kevin Connell   2012-15
90   Randy Corn   1999-02
89   Jon Hinkle   1992-95
89   Link Saunders   2005-07
87   Hank Kraft   1989-92
84   Drew Mahaffey   2008-11
82   Jordan Buster   2016-

Buster on NCBWA Stopper Watch List
Jordan Buster was one of 75 players named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List. The honor is given to the nation's top relief pitcher.

Preseason All-SoCon
The Bulldogs had three players named to the preseason All-SoCon teams. Outfielder Jeffery Brown and starting pitcher Dylan Spence were first team selections, while catcher Bryce Leasure was named to the second team.

D1 Baseball Pro Prospects
Outfielder Jeffery Brown enters the season as the No. 1 draft prospect in the Southern Conference according to D1Baseball.com. Reliever Ian Foggo sits third on the list, while catcher Bryce Leasure is ninth and first baseman Ben Peden 13th.

On Deck
The 'Dogs continue their 10-game home stand to start the season as they welcome No. 17 Michigan to Riley Park Feb. 22-24. The series opener is set for 5 p.m.