Drew Tolson (Baylor), the 2014 Dutchmen Pitcher of the Year, fires a strike.
The college baseball season got underway for even more teams this past weekend, as another group of former Dutchmen excelled on the diamond.
Drew Tolson, Baylor- Tolson, the 2014 Dutchmen Pitcher of the Year, made his second start of the campaign on Saturday, the clincher of a series victory for the Bears over Kent State. Tolson worked 6.2 innings without surrendering an earned run. He allowed just four hits and struck out three hitters, flashing his signature control with just one walk allowed. The Bears won the game, 4-3 in ten innings, due to the pitching of Tolson and reigning conference pitcher of the week Sean Spicer, whose three innings of relief pitching were awarded with the win.
Justin Brock, Franklin Pierce- Brock, a 2013 and 2014 Dutchmen player, started his season on a hot note, leading the Ravens to a 5-0 mark. The shortstop went 8-for-19, accounting for a team-best .421 average. He drove in two runs and scored another three. The “Base Burglar” swiped two bases in the team’s victory over Molloy on Saturday, a game in which the local product went 3-for-4. Brock had multiple hits in each of Franklin Pierce’s final three games of the weekend, wins over Molloy, Mercy, and Bridgeport.
Ernie Clement, Virginia- The true freshman, who played in Albany in 2014, continued his stellar start for the undefeated and #2 ranked Cavaliers. Clement recorded nine hits in 20 at-bats over four weekend games, including his first collegiate home run in an 8-3 victory on Saturday. His best game of the weekend came in the final game of the weekend, an 18-inning victory over Marist. Clement went 4-for-6 with two runs batted in, including a triple. He also showed the stellar defense he showcased in Albany, as the center fielder made a spectacular diving catch in the top of the 18th inning to keep the game tied.
Tyler Orris, Millersville- A three-game sweep for Millersville was led by Orris, who went 6-for-13 in the series over Le Moyne. Orris, who wore the Dutchmen colors in the summer of 2013, scored seven runs and drove in five over the weekend series. His biggest output came in the finale, as the shortstop drilled a three-run homer in the second inning, en route to a 5-0 Marauder victory. Through nine games, Orris is hitting .410 with a team-high 16 hits and 12 runs scored, as well as 11 runs batted in.
Matt Dacey, Richmond- The 2013 Dutchmen slugger, who won the PGCBL Home Run Derby that year, remains a presence in the middle of the Spider lineup. Dacey hit .364 during Richmond’s series victory over Holy Cross. The third baseman drove in three runs and scored another three, using a pair of doubles to drive in Spider runs. Through five games, Dacey leads Richmond in runs batted in and extra base hits. He is also one of two Spiders to boast an on-base percentage better than .400.
Morgan Phillips, College of Charleston- The Cougar center fielder, who played for the Dutchmen in 2012, batted .500 during Charleston’s series victory over The Citadel. Phillips was key in Saturday’s series clincher, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Phillips has started all six games for the Cougars, and leads the team with a .435 average and ten hits. College of Charleston is currently receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and heads into a weekend series with Indiana, a team loaded with former Dutchmen stars.
