NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the 16th consecutive year Belmont baseball opens its season on its home turf. The Bruins will welcome the 2017 campaign by hosting Kent State at E.S. Rose Park for a three-game weekend series Feb. 17-19. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, February 17th.
BU returns the core of its offensive production from last year, including sophomore infielder Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) and senior outfielder Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), who, combined, led the team in runs, hits, home runs, RBIs and walks. Hadden cracked the Belmont record book when he registered 61 walks last season, ranking fourth in the nation at the end of the year. The NCBWA All-American compiled a team-best 55 runs while earning a .521 on base percentage. Washington returns after a breakout junior campaign behind the plate that saw him record a .330 batting average with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs on the year. Collectively, the squad returns over 80 percent of its offensive contribution in runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs and base on balls from the 2016 season.
On the mound, the Bruins return their top hurler in junior Tyler Vaughn (Jonesboro, Ill.). The All-OVC honoree tossed 87.2 innings while striking out 81 batters and earning a team-best 4.00 ERA on the year. Vaughn compiled a 7-3 record in 18 appearances. Belmont also saw major offerings from starting hurlers Connor Etheridge (Springfield, Ill.) and Kyle Klotz (Fairview, Tenn.). Senior right hander Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) will provide BU with reinforcement in the bull pen as the team's top returning reliever. Veltri tallied five saves in 22 appearances last year. He struck out 33 batters in 39.0 innings of work.
After losing only five starters – two position players and three pitchers – Belmont will enjoy an experienced squad of 21 members from last year's roster. Of the returnees, six earned postseason accolades from the Ohio Valley Conference. Three Bruins were named All-OVC Freshman – Hadden, Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and Klotz – while Clay Payne (Powell, Tenn.), Vaughn and Washington were listed on the All-OVC Second Team roster. The Bruins have only faced the Golden Eagle one time previously with Kent State earning the victory, 17-3, on Feb. 26, 2006. This will be the first time that the two teams have played each other in a weekend series.
Kent State enters the year with sights set on building off a successful 2016 season. Last year, the Golden Flashes boasted a 44-14 overall record while claiming the MAC regular season crown, having only tallied four losses against league foes. The talented squad won 18 of its final 20 contests prior to the conference tournament.
The Flashes lost seven veterans last year, including their ace hurler Eric Lauer. Lauer only relinquished two losses in his 15 appearances, compiling a record of 10-2 after tossing 104.0 innings. The Elyria, Ohio product registered a 0.69 ERA on the year while striking out 125 batters and only dishing out eight earned runs. In addition to losing Lauer, Kent State will also have to fill the spot of Zarley Zalewski, one of the squad's major offensive contributors. Zalewski led the team in runs and doubles and triggered the second most RBIs and hits in 2016.
Despite losing some of their top players, the Golden Flashes will return a talented bunch, including offensive powerhouse Luke Burch. Burch recorded a batting average of .357 while connecting on a team-best 84 hits - 18 of which were multiple base knocks. He also demonstrates speed, stealing 22 bases in 28 attempts. On the mound, the pitching staff will feature top returners in Eli Kraus and Zach Willeman. Kraus is the Flashes top returning starter, having registered an ERA of 2.64 in 14 starts last year. He finished the season with a record of 9-1, tossing 88.2 innings. Willeman is the team's top reliever as he earned 14 saves during his sophomore campaign.
