BMOC Week XI: Chester, Gollert, Howse, Lenihan, Luchies, O’Halloran

Great Lake Canadians alum Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) had 10 strikeouts in his start for Canisius against Morehead State. He now sits fourth all-time in Canisius’ program history with 203 strikeouts. Photo: Canisius Athletics

April 12, 2023

BMOC Week 11

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

The races in college baseball are starting to heat up and Canadians are making a major impact for their teams. Let’s check out the top highlights from the week that was.

Duffy moves up on Griffs' K’s list

With his 10 strikeouts in Canisius’ series opener against Morehead State, right-hander Matt Duffy (Burlington, Ont.) now sits fourth all-time in program history with 203.

UBC runs winning streak to nine

The University of British Columbia swept four straight from Bushnell to push their regular season winning streak to nine games.

Sean Heppner (Point Roberts, Wash.) got things off to a good start with seven innings of work in a 4-2 Game 1 win. Heppner allowed two runs on five hits and fanned 13.

In an 11-0 Game 3 win, Daniel Orfaly (White Rock, BC) turned in six scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, walked two and struck out five.

On the offensive side, six Thunderbirds put on a show.

Kyle Anderson (Burnaby, BC) went 4-for-5 with a RBI in a 14-4 Game 4 win. He also had a hit in a 10-3 victory in Game 2.

Great Lake Canadians alum Brett Corbeth (London, Ont.) had six hits and six walks for the UBC Thunderbirds this past week. Photo: UBC Athletics

Brett Corbeth (London, Ont.) showed off his ability at the plate and on the bases with six hits, six walks, two RBIs and two stolen bases. He was also hit by a pitch.

Mike Fitzsimmons (Chilliwack, BC) stroked 10 hits and drove in seven.

Trent Lenihan (White Rock, BC) pounded out seven hits, walked once and drove in eight. He hit a two-run home run in the Game 1 victory and another in Game 3.

Aaron Marsh (Nanaimo, BC) collected seven hits, drove in a pair and was hit by a pitch.

Jonny McGill (Richmond, BC) had eight hits, walked twice and drove in eight.

Next up for the T-Birds is a pair of games at Seattle University on Friday and Saturday.

O’Halloran excellent, Wolverines fall in extra

Nine innings of one run baseball from Connor O’Halloran wasn’t enough for the Michigan Wolverines as they dropped Game 1 against Nebraska 3-1 in 10 innings. O’Halloran surrendered six hits, walked two and struck out eight.

Abbotsford Cardinals alum Nicolas Graham (Abbotsford, BC) struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings in three relief appearances for the Faulkner Eagles this past week. Photo: Faulkner Athletics

Graham makes three appearances

The Faulkner Eagles rode Nicholas Graham (Abbotsford, BC) in relief this past week. Making three appearances, Graham worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, a walk and striking out 11. He picked up the win going three innings, giving up one run on two hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in a 12-10 victory over William Carey.

Peacocks pitcher Coombes earns win

Christian Coombes (St. Thomas, Ont.) gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits as Saint Peter’s defeated Iona 11-4. Coombes walked four and struck out four to improve his record to 2-5.

Marchese fuels Purple Eagle offence

Infielder and graduate student Josh Marchese (Burnaby, BC) had a big series for the Niagara Purple Eagles as they took two of three from Quinnipiac. Marchese chipped in six hits, walked once and drove in six. He doubled four times and hit a three-run home run in a 16-10 Game 2 loss.

Luchies deals in Lower Columbia victory

Right-hander Owen Luchies (Victoria, BC) pitched into the eighth inning to help Lower Columbia beat Clark 3-0. Luchies threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings and yielded seven hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Canning picks up win No. 4

Hunter Canning (Dartmouth, N.S.) spun five innings and allowed two runs (zero earned) on three hits as Sussex County dumped County College of Morris 7-2. He walked two and fanned five.

Arnold strokes eight hits

Bryce Arnold (Grimsby, Ont.) pounded out eight hits, including two solo home runs, and drove in four in four games for No. 14 Campbell. Arnold went 5-for-6 with two RBIs to help the Camels seal a 2-1 series win over Presbyterian.

Victoria Eagles alum Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) allowed just one run on five hits in seven innings in his start for Cal State Fullerton. Photo: Cal State Fullerton Athletics

Chester beats UC Santa Barbara

Cal State Fullerton received seven innings from Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) as they beat UC Santa Barbara 8-1 in Game 2 of their series. Chester gave up one run on five hits and struck out two.

Irvine goes six

Connor Irvine (Victoria, BC) conceded two runs on six hits over six innings of work as Arkansas Monticello beat Henderson State 9-4. He walked three and struck out seven.

Taylor takes care of Lubbock Christian

In Texas A&M Kingsville’s only win of their series over Lubbock Christian, Colton Taylor (Amherstburg, Ont.) delivered 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. The Javelinas took the contest 4-3 as Taylor moved his record to 7-3.

Ontario Blue Jays grad Taeg Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) belted two grand slams - including a walk-off shot - in a single game to propel Missouri State to a 14-10 win over Bradley. Photo: Missouri State Athletics

Gollert swats two grand slams

Taeg Gollert (Toronto, Ont.) had one of the best games of the season for a Canadian in Missouri State’s 14-10 win over Bradley. Gollert hit two grand slams, including walk-off slam in the bottom of the ninth to power the Bears to the win. He finished the series with three hits, two walks and eight RBIs.

Capuano comes on in long relief

Summoned from the bullpen in the fourth inning, Marshall’s Ryan Capuano (Toronto, Ont.) threw 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out five in a 8-2 loss to Louisiana.

Libke strong in Mystics’ loss

Bryce Libke (Sasktoon, Sask.) provided five innings of two-run baseball in Bismarck State’s 3-2 loss to Miles. Only one of the two runs were earned and came on three hits. He walked three and struck out three.

Lewis goes stellar seven

The seven innings of two-run baseball that Medaille College received from Braeden Lewis (Oshawa, Ont.) couldn’t lead them to a win as they dropped Game 3 of their series to Elmira, 3-1. Lewis scattered nine hits, walked one and punched out three.

Team Manitoba and HRS Training Centre alum Ethan Geisbrecht (Altona, Man.) earned a win in his start for Hutchinson, allowing just two earned runs in five innings. Photo: HRS Training Centre/Twitter

Geisbrecht salvages a win for Hutchinson

After dropping the first three games of their series to Cloud County, Hutchinson turned the ball to Ethan Geisbrecht (Altona, Man.) and he delivered their only win of the series with five innings of work. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Hall homers twice

Jude Hall (Chilliwack, BC) pounded out six hits, including two home runs in six games for Yavapai. Hall also walked twice, drove in four and stole six bases.

Howse hammers opposing pitching, Hemmerling shuts it down

A busy week for Barton College didn't bother Dryden Howse (Okotoks, Alta.), in fact, he got into quite the rhythm. Howse had nine hits, four walks and six RBIs. He homered in a 23-1 thumping of Seward County.

Reece Hemmerling (Beaumont, Alta.) threw seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 Game 4 win over Seward County. Hammerling allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out nine.

North Shore Twins alum Griffin Palfrey (Vancouver, BC) amassed eight hits, a walk and six RBIs for Columbia in four consecutive victories last week. Photo: Columbia Athletics

Palfrey, Lions go 4-0

Griffin Palfrey (Vancouver, BC) amassed eight hits, a walk and six RBIs for Columbia in four straight victories last week. He went 4-for-6 with three RBIs in an upset midweek win over No. 19 Connecticut. Later in the week he hit a solo home run to open the scoring in a 3-2 Game 2 win over Yale.

Gillon pitches Douglas to victory

Andrew Gillon (Surrey, BC) tossed seven innings and gave up one run on seven hits as Douglas College defeated Bellevue 5-3. He walked two and struck out one.

Kush comes through with six hits

Despite dropping all four games, Kyle Kush (Guelph, Ont.) had a good week for Canisius College. He collected six hits, walked twice and drove in a run.

Edmonton Riverhawks alum Clayton Loranger (Sherwood Park, Alta.) had eight hits for Stephen F. Austin last week. Photo: Stephen F. Austin Athletics

Loranger laces eight hits

Clayton Loranger (Sherwood Park, Alta.) had eight hits, two walks, six RBIs and a stolen base for Stephen F. Austin last week. Seven of his hits came in a weekend sweep of Tarleton State.

Vulcano with three knocks

Liam Vulcano (Cloverdale, BC) pounded out three hits for Ottawa University as they won all four of their games, including a three-game sweep of McPherson.

***

It was yet another week of stellar performances from Canadians on the diamond. Next week should bring more of the same. Don’t miss any of the action right here with the BMOC.

Do you know of a player deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column? Email Matt Betts at mattbetts@canadianbaseballnetwork.com. Please note that our week runs Monday-Sunday.

Be sure to follow Matt Betts at @Bettsy41 for extensive Canadian baseball coverage all season long.