Big Man On Campus Week 6

By Matt Betts
Canadian Baseball Network

A lot has happened over the last week. There was a pitching performance that won’t soon be forgotten, individual honours and plenty of other eye popping performances. Without anymore hesitation let’s check out the top players from the last week.

Undershute no-hits Highland

It was a game Will Undershute (Okotoka, Alta.) won’t soon forget. The freshman left-handed pitcher no-hit Highland in Southeastern Community College’s last game of the week. In the 11-0 win Undershute tossed seven no-hit innings to accomplish what only a few pitchers have been able to do. He didn’t allow a run, walked four and strikeout six. It was the second time during the past week that the Blackhawks held the opposition no zero hits, Chas Segedahl also threw a perfect game in a 5-0 Game 2 win over Lake Land. 

Cina collects honours, Renaud supplies walk-off magic

It was a week Zarley Cina (Kitchener, Ont.) of East Stroudsburg University won’t soon forget. In Game 1 of the Dinwiddie (VA) Challenge against Jefferson he went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in a 10-6 win. Cina was moved to the leadoff spot after the first game and continued his hot week. The Warriors then throttled Rose State 23-4 which was helped by a 3-for-4 game with a two-run home run, four RBIs, a hit by pitch and a stolen base by Cina. They again beat Rose State in their next game by a 6-4 score. Cina again went 3-for-4. The final game saw Cina and his team down Indiana University of Pennsylvania 17-2. He had three more hits in that one, including a solo blast and two RBIs. The Canadian was named National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Atlantic Region Hitter of the week along with Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Co-Player of the Week for his play.

Laine Renaud (Hamilton, Ont.) wanted to make sure he wasn’t forgotten about in the East Stroudsburg lineup. Against Jefferson he went 2-for-5 with a double. In the blowout of Rose State he went 3-for-5 with a pair of three-run home runs. He also walked and drove in eight of the Warriors 23 runs. Renaud played the hero in his teams 6-4 win over Rose State by launching a two-run walk-off home run to lead his team to victory. He rounded out his week with another two-run home run, a walk, a hit by pitch and three RBIs.

J.P. Stevenson is the MAAC Pitcher of the Week
The Canisius Golden Griffins swept Western Carolina to improve to 5-2 on the young 2018 season. J.P. Stevenson (New Glasgow, PEI) took the mound in Game 2 and delivered seven scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out six. The start caught the attention of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference as he was named Pitcher of the Week.

Ejoh powers Griffs

Canice Ejoh (Brampton, Ont.) backed teammate J.P. Stevenson and the Canisius Golden Griffins with some steady offence in their series with Western Carolina. In Game 1 he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base in a 15-4 win. After a double and a RBI in a Game 2 win he helped complete the sweep by reaching base five times. He had three hits, a walk, was hit by a pitch and stole a base in the 12-11, 13 inning win. The former Ontario Royal did his damage out of the leadoff spot.

William Woods uses Canadian content

Taran Oulton (St. Albert, Alta.) continued his strong season working six scoreless innings and  allowing five hits as he picked up the win for William Woods University over Lindenwood-Belleville. He did walk six but struck out eight over the six frames.
Brian Grinton (Calgary, Alta.) had a hit and stole a base in Game 1, and had a pair of hits in each of Games 2 and 3. He hit .385 on the week and is hitting .278 on the campaign.
Dany Paradis-Giroux (Lavis, Que.) got the ball in Game 3 of the series and tossed seven innings, scattering seven hits and just a single unearned run. He walked one and struck out four as the Owls completed the sweep with an 11-1 victory.

UBC has winning week

The University of British Columbia finished up their 11 game California road trip before making a stop in Idaho for a three-game set with the College of Idaho Coyotes last week. Lucas Soper (Vancouver, BC) had a hit and a walk in a 12-8 loss to Division I San Diego to kick off the week. After taking the day off versus Westmont, a 9-6 Thunderbird win, he went 3-for-5 with a RBI in a Game 1 win over the College of Idaho. Soper stroked a double in both Games 2 and 3 for a strong finish. The Thunderbirds lost Game 2 by a 3-2 score. Game 3 of the series was pushed from Saturday to Sunday and it appeared the Thunderbirds didn’t mind as they picked up a 15-4 win.

Former Central Arizona Vaquero Mitch Robinson (Surrey, BC) kickstarted his week with a 3-for-5 game that included a two-run home run and three RBIs. He walked in the win over Westmont and then went 2-for-4 with a walk and a RBI in Game 1 against the College of Idaho. In a 3-2 Game 2 loss he hit a double and drove in a run and closed the week going 2-for-5 with a walk and RBI in a 15-4 Game 3 victory.

Anthony Cusati (Burnaby, BC) had eight hits on the week for the Thunderbirds. Six of his eight hits came in two, three-hit games. He went 3-for-5 with a stolen base against Westmont and 3-for-4 with a walk and RBI in Game 3 of their series with the College of Idaho. 
Brad Smith (Vancouver, BC) made a pair of starts over the busy week. The first came against Westmont as he worked five innings, scattering six hits and four runs (three earned). He struck out five in the win. He was handed the ball again in Game 2 against the College of Idaho and he went three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, two walks, while striking out three.
Niall Windeler (Toronto, Ont.) picked up the Game 1 win over the College of Idaho with seven strong innings of work. The former Toronto Mets lefty surrendered four hits, a run with seven strikeouts. 

Patrick van den Brink (Surrey, BC) made three appearances and picked up a save during his teams stretch of games last week. His first appearance came when he threw two scoreless innings against Westmont, allowing just one hit. He picked up his second save of the year throwing a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and striking out one in Game 1 against the College of Idaho. He struck out two in another scoreless inning of work in Game 3 of the series.

Trogrlic-Iverson deals again

It was another game and another impressive start for Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (Oakville, Ont.). This time he went seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs and two walks. He struck out nine to improve to 3-1 on the year with a 0.98 ERA.

Bishop leads University of Texas Tyler to 4-0 week

Alex Bishop (Calgary, Alta.) had six hits to help the University of Texas Tyler to four wins on the week. His best game came in Game 1 of their series with Texas Lutheran when he went 3-for-5 with a walk and three RBIs.

Myers mashes for Wabash Valley

Noah Myers (Wyoming, Ont.) helped Wabash Valley go 4-2 on the week by contributing eight hits. He started his week off hot going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. He hit a home run in a 12-6 win over Northwest Florida State later in the week.

Clay can hit, Clay can pitch

It was a busy week for Matthew Clay (Port Moody, BC) as he was all over the diamond for Monterey Peninsula. In the batters box he chipped in five hits with a home run, two walks and four RBIs. He really showed off his talents in the final game of the week, a 9-3 win over Los Medanos. He went 3-or-5 with his home run, three RBIs and also started on the mound. He went four innings, giving up two hits, three runs (one earned) with two walks and a strikeout.

Lloyd can do it too

Matthew Clay wasn’t the only Canadian shining in the box and on the mound last week. Matt Lloyd (Okotoks, Alta.) picked up a save as No. 17 Indiana downed Coastal Carolina 6-5. He threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and walking one. He then decided to jump into the box during the Hoosiers games at the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla. In their first game, a 7-6 win over Rutgers, Lloyd went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double and a triple. He launched a solo home run and swatted a double in a 4-0 victory over Boston College. He worked a walk to close out his week in a 7-2 win over Chicago State.

Freshman earns win

Being a freshman in college baseball can be pressure packed but it wasn’t bothering Alexandre Jones (Bowmanville, Ont.) of the Niagara Purple Eagles. The left hander picked up the win in the Purple Eagles season opening 15-2 win over Longwood. He worked four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and walking one. He struck out two Lancer batters.

Farid excellent for East Central

George Farid (Mississauga, Ont.) wasn’t in the lineup for East Central Community College’s first game of the week but his performances that followed showed he doesn’t want to be left out again. Farid went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a RBI as the Warriors downed Bevill State 5-2. He hit two more doubles the next game in a 13-10 loss to Wallace State Community College-Hanceville,. He finished the game going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. The final game of the week came against Tyler Junior College and Farid again stroked a double, finishing with two hits, a RBI and a stolen base in the 9-6 win

Cooper collects first college hit

Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) can take a deep breathe. The former Ontario Blue Jay collected his first collegiate hit for the powerhouse Vanderbilt Commodores last week. The hit came in a 15-2 walloping of Presbyterian. 

Opposing hitters no match for St. Mary’s hurler

It was an impressive start for Fernando Fernandez-Beltran (Mercier, Que.) as he struck out 12 Texas A&M Kingsville batters to help his St. Mary’s Rattlers to an 8-3 win. He made his mark over eight innings, allowing just five hits, three runs (one earned) and six walks. He improves his record to 1-2 on the year.

Kentucky opens 50th and final season at Cliff Hagan Stadium

It was a memorable final home opener at Cliff Hagan Stadium for the Kentucky Wildcats. A regular record crowd of 4118 people watched as Xavier defeated the Wildcats 3-2 and handed Kentucky their first loss of the season. Kole Cottam (Knoxville, TN) walked twice in the game. Kentucky went on to sweep Oakland in a weekend series following the loss to Xavier. In Game 1, a 10-1 win, Cottam hit a double and walked. Game 2 saw him go 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and four RBIs in total. He went 3-for-4 with a walk and a RBI as the Wildcats completed the sweep.

Humeniuk hits for Indian Hills

Ryan Humeniuk (Stonewall, Man.) had a hit and a RBI in Indian Hills Game 1 loss to Garden City Community College. Indian Hills got in the win column in Game 2, helped by a 5-for-6 game with two triples, three RBIs and four runs scored by Humeniuk. He collected a RBI in a Game 3 loss and then went 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs in a Game 4 loss. 

Esau goes deep

Brett Esau (Meadow Lake, Sask.) hit a home run in the final game of the week Frank Phillips to close a solid week. He ended up gaping 4-for-9 with five walks to help his team to a 2-2 week.

Vazquez picks up victory

Strong relief propelled the Northwestern State Demons to a 2-1 win over Pennsylvania. That relief was provided by Jose Vazquez (Cambridge, Ont.) who worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. He walked two and struck out three for his first win of the year. The Demons swept the three-game series from Penn.

Rochon-Nunez doesn’t allow a hit, run or walk

It is the first appearance in the BMOC for Emanuel Rochon-Nunez (Quebec City, Que.). He enters the column thanks to a pair of scoreless appearances for Eastern Arizona. The first came in a 9-2 loss to Arizona Western when he went two innings with three punch outs. He followed it up with 2 1/3 innings  and striking out three again against South Mountain.

Cappe wins again

Brady Cappe (Brantford, Ont.) worked six innings and allowed two hits in an 8-1 Lake Land College win over Highland. He allowed an unearned run, walked three and struck out twelve.

Mailloux gets no decision

Olivier Mailloux (Ville de Quebec, Que.) was steady for the University of Northwestern Ohio in Game 3 of their series with Point. He threw six innings, allowed two runs and struck out three and his Racers took the game 7-6 in 10 innings.

Johnson throws complete game

Lubbock Christian needed only one pitcher in Game 2 of their series with Metropolitan State Denver and it was left Ryan Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.). Johnson threw a complete game seven inning shutout, giving up just one hit. He walked two and struck out three to even his record at 1-1. His ERA currently stands at a sparkling 0.82.

Bourassa brilliant for San Francisco

The Dons of San Francisco got seven strong innings from Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.) en route to an 8-2 win over Sacramento State. Bourassa scattered five hits and one run, while striking out 11.

Cyr stellar for Clarendon

Julien Cyr (Montreal, Que.) picked up his first win of the season for the Clarendon Bulldogs in a 9-1 win over Ranger. Cyr went 4 2/3 innings of one hit baseball. He gave up one run, walked seven and struck out six.

Arruda wins 1-0 game

One run was all Tabor College needed with Nathan Arruda (Toronto, Ont.) on the mound against Bethany College. Arid threw a complete game shutout, allowing two hits, three walks and striking out seven for the No. 16 Bluejays.

Tough loss for Pratt Community College

Pratt Community College didn’t give up an earned run in a 4-1 loss to Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa. Lucas Wept (Brampton, Ont.) threw five innings, giving up an unearned run with three walks and eight strikeouts for the Beavers in the loss.

Tofteland hits two home runs

Dane Tofteland (Grand Prairie, Alta.) had five hits for the Indiana State Sycamores. Two of those hits were home runs, a three-run shot in a 17-3 win over Lipscomb and another three-run shot as part of a five run first in a 21-4 win over Middle Tennessee State. The Sycamores beat Belmont and lost to Vanderbilt in the final two games of their week. Tofteland walked once, drove in nine runs and posted a 1.074 OPS in the four games. The Sycamores are now 5-3 in 2018.

Student steps up for Mesa

Mesa Community College got some offensive output from Greg Student (Sexsmith, Sask.). He went 5-for-10 with a walk and a RBI on the week for the Thunderbirds.

Skirrow named Freshman of the Week

Noah Skirrow (Stony Creek, Ont.) made a strong first impression for the Liberty Flames in their Game 3 win over Virginia Commonwealth University on February 18th. He tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and a walk. He struck out nine to pick up his first collegiate win. Mike McCrae (Niagara Falls, Ont.) is an assistant coach for the VCU Rams. The Flames righty was named Big South Freshman of the Week. He was back on the mound last week against Binghamton going four innings. He surrendered five hits, four runs and issued five walks with four strikeouts in a 10-6 win. Skirrow and the Flames have a midweek tilt with Elon before traveling to Chapel Hill, N.C. for a three-game set with the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Murphy a standout for Winston-Salem State

Michael Murphy (Unionville, Ont.) went 4-for-10 for the Rams of Winston-Salem State this past week. Murphy also had a .900 OPS for the week as the Rams had a 3-2 record.

Good weekend for Webb

He may have only played two games but Kristian Webb (Whitby, Ont.) pounded out five hits for the California University of Pennsylvania. He finished the week going 5-for-7 with a pair of RBIs and four runs scored.

Hutzal reaches six times

Sophomore Peter Hutzal (Calgary, Alta.) of the Marshall Herd was on base six time during their three-game sweep of Elon. Hutzal went 4-for-7 with two walks and a pair of RBIs in the series. The Herd now prepare for Appalachian State this week.

Wilson goes to work for Davenport

Zac Wilson (New Lowell, Ont.) went 5-for-8 in two games played for Davenport University last week. Wilson hit a solo home run in an 11-3 win over Gannon and drove in three runs in total. He currently lead the team with a .464 average.

Langley wins Hitter of the Week

Tauren Langley (Edmonton, Alta.) was honoured with Kansas Jayhawk Community College Hitter of the Week for his performance in Week 3 (Feb. 12-18). Langley went 7-for-13 with four home runs and 10 RBIs.

Every week in college baseball seems to provide a new and exciting story. The BMOC continues to track the best Canadian performances from across all of college baseball. Remember to check back next week to see who starred for their team

If you know someone deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column please contact Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com. Our week runs Monday-to-Sunday.