Gillespie fans 13 to hit 131 Ks on season for modern Canuck D1 record
Former Ontario Nationals RHP Blake Gillespie (Arva, Ont.) struck out 13 as the Charlotte ‘49ers won its conference opener against Wichita State.
Gillespie Dazzles Again in Tournament Win
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Blake Gillespie worked his magic yet again in the Charlotte ‘49ers tournament-opening victory in the American Athletic Conference Championships, presented by Regions, striking out 13 in a 7-1 victory over Wichita State.
Gillespie’s 13 strikeouts tied the American Athletic Conference record for most strikeouts by a pitcher in a single tournament game while matching his own career high, and propelled him into fourth place on Charlotte’s single-season strikeout list with 131 on the year.
They also helped Gillespie set another record as he became the all-time leading Canadian strikeout leader for most punch outs in a single year in American College for a Canadian citizen, since records were kept in 1999. He passed LHP R.J Swindle (Vancouver, BC) of the Charleston Southern Buccaneers.
Gillespie (Arva, Ont.) threw the first eight innings to collect his eighth win of the season, giving up one run on four hits with one walk. Chase Carson followed him for the ninth inning and made quick work of the Wichita State (20-35, 11-16 American) lineup, setting the side down in five pitches.
Charlotte (36-20, 18-9 American) entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and turned in its 10th win in a row, tying for the third-longest winning streak in program history and the sixth time the Green and White have won double-digit games in a row.
The Niners used 12 hits in the game to beat No. 7-seeded Wichita State, reaching the double-digit mark in the hit column for the fifth consecutive game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Charlotte’s offense was hot from the jump, scoring six runs across the first three innings to chase the Wichita State starter. Rivera drew a lead-off walk in the first and took second on a deep fly ball to right before coming home on a single up the gut from Bryce.
Gillespie struck out the side in the second and his offense rewarded him with three more in the home half of the frame.
Two more came home in the third inning after another 1-2-3 frame from Gillespie on a two-run knock from Estes.
Wichita State finally broke up the perfect game and no-hitter bid from Gillespie in the fourth but Charlotte’s ace responded by leaving the two runners on.
Both teams went down in order in the fifth, while Gillsepie fanned two more in another 1-2-3 frame in the sixth.
With two out in the seventh Gillespie tied the record (C Mauricio Millan) with No. 129.
The Shockers finally broke through in the eighth inning, hitting a triple and then bringing the runner in on a single with two outs. Gillespie did get two strikeouts in the frame however, collecting his 130th of the season (CF Kaleb Duncan on three straight pitches) to break the Canadian single-season record and move into fourth place on Charlotte’s single-season list.
UP NEXT
Charlotte has a day off before returning to the field in the winner’s bracket on Thursday (May 22) to face No. 6 seed East Carolina, with first pitch scheduled for 47 minutes after the completion of the first game that day, approximately between 4-5 p.m.
Canuck strikeout leaders at NCAA Division I
(Our modern era of tracking began in 1999)
RHP Blake Gillespie, Arva, Ont. UNC-Charlotte 2025, 131 *
LHP R.J Swindle, Vancouver, BC, Charleston Southern 2003, 129
LHP R.J Swindle, Vancouver, BC, Charleston Southern 2004, 127
LHP Jeff Degano, Surrey, BC, Indiana State 2015, 126
RHP Matt Duffy, Burlington, Ont. Canisius 2022, 124
RHP Matt Brash, Kingston, Ont. Niagara 2019, 123
RHP Jeremy Herauf, Regina, Sask. Winthrop 2002, 120
RHP Matt Duffy, Burlington, Ont. Canisius 2023, 119
RHP Steven-Ryder Carter, Windsor, Ont. Coastal Carolina 2004, 116
LHP James Paxton, Ladner, BC, Kentucky 2009, 115
RHP Tyler Bremner, San Diego, Santa Barbara 2025 111 *
RHP Steven-Ryder Carter, Windsor, Ont. Coastal Carolina 2003, 110
LHP Connor O’Halloran, Mississauga, Ont. Michigan 2023, 110
RHP Antoine Jean, Montreal, Que., Houston, 110 *
RHP Robert Nixon, Welland, Ont. Adelphi 2011, 104
LHP Connor O’Halloran, Mississauga, Ont. Michigan 2022, 104
RHP Jordan Marks, Sarnia, Ont. USC Upstate 2021, 101
RHP L.P. Langevin, Quebec, Que. Louisiana-Lafayette 2024, 100
* Denotes still active
Bold indicates major-league service time