Ryan Conner

Ijames, Perkins, Hageman win week six awards

College Baseball

Tanner Perkins; WKU photo

It’s time for the weekly BluGrass Baseball awards. Check out the best hitting, pitching and freshman performances from the week below:

Hitter of the week: OF Stewart Ijames (UofL)

  • Stats: 7-16 (.438), 4 HR, 7 R, 11 RBI, 2 BBs, 2 2Bs, 2 SBs
  • Honorable Mention: Jared Andreoli (WKU), Ryan Wright (UofL), Chad Wright (UK), Taylor Davis (Morehead St.), Luke Bainer (Morehead St.)

Pitcher of the week: LHP Tanner Perkins (WKU)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Justin Hageman (WKU), Justin Amlung (UofL), Matt Koch (UofL), Corey Littrell (UK), Walter Wijas (UK), Jake Donze (Murray St.), Matt Fyffe (EKU), Garrick Whittle (Morehead St.)

Freshman of the week: RHP Justin Hageman (WKU)

  • Stats: 1-0, 6.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Ryan Seiz (UofL), Jeff Thompson (UofL), Chad Green (UofL), Corey Littrell (UK), Wes Warren (Murray St.), Kyle Cornett (Murray St.), Ryan Conner (Morehead St.)

Jared Andreoli, Tanner Perkins, J T Riddle win week 5 awards

Uncategorized

Jared Andreoli bats against UK: BluGrass Baseball photo

It’s time for the weekly BluGrass Baseball awards. Check out the best of Kentucky Division one college baseball hitting, pitching and freshmen performances below:

Hitter of the week: OF Jared Andreoli (WKU)

  • Stats: 8-15 (.533), 2 HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SB
  • Honorable Mention: J. T. Riddle (UK), Alex Chittenden (UofL), Cody Larson (Murray St.), Richie Rodriguez (EKU), Ivan Hartle (WKU), Logan Robbins (WKU), Daniel Pugh (Morehead St.)

Pitcher of the week: LHP Tanner Perkins (WKU)

  • Stats: 1-0, 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Alex Meyer (UK), Justin Amlung (UofL), Derek Self (UofL), Kyle McGrath (EKU), Brian Edelen (WKU)

Freshman of the week: OF J. T. Riddle (UK)

  • Stats: 7-13 (.538), 1 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB
  • Honorable Mention: Alex Chittenden (UofL), Jeff Thompson (UofL), Wes Warren (Murray St.), Sean Hagen (EKU), Kyle McGrath (EKU), Justin Hageman (WKU), Ryan Conner (Morehead St.)

Saturday roundup: UofL, WKU win; UK, Murray St. lose; EKU drops 15-inning marathon; Morehead St. splits double-header

College Baseball

Zach Osborne; BluGrass Baseball photo

Recaps and highlights from Saturday Kentucky college baseball action:

  • The University of Louisville evened its series with Xavier with a 3-0 win Saturday. Redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Justin Amlung improved to 4-0 on the season after surrendering five hits in seven shutout innings while striking out seven batters and walking two. Freshman first baseman Ryan Seiz, sophomore third baseman Cade Stallings and senior catcher J. J. Ethel each tallied two hits in the game. Redshirt junior right fielder Stewart Ijames, Seiz and Stallings scored the Cards three runs. Junior right-handed pitcher Tony Zych struck out two batters in the ninth inning to earn his sixth save of the season. (Box Score)
  • Western Kentucky University slugged three home runs and tallied 11 hits to secure a series win versus Middle Tennessee with a 10-4 victory. Junior left fielder Jared Andreoli was 3-5 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored, and senior catcher Matt Rice was 2-4 with one home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Junior center fielder Kes Carter and junior shortstop Logan Robbins both tallied three hits in the game. Freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman earned his third win of the season after surrendering four runs on six hits in six and two-third innings while striking out four batters and walking three. (Box Score)
  • Tennessee used a six-run sixth inning to even its series with the University of Kentucky at one win each and send the Cats to a 12-8 loss. UK sophomore right-handed pitcher Jordan Cooper took the loss after surrendering nine runs on 12 hits in five and one-third innings while striking out four batters and walking two. Junior left fielder Chad Wright and junior third baseman Thomas McCarthy both homered in the game, and McCarthy tallied three hits. Freshman right fielder J. T. Riddle was 3-5 with two RBI. PRP  alum and Tennessee junior shortstop Zach Osborne was 2-3 with one RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases in the game. (Box Score)
  • Murray State University surrendered three different three-run innings in a 11-6 loss to Georgia State, which clinched a series win. Junior right-handed pitcher Tyler Beers took the loss after surrendering seven runs on eight hits in six and one-third innings while striking out one batter and walking three. Senior right fielder Zach Noonan was 2-3 with one home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Junior first baseman Cody Larson continued his hot hitting during the series with a 2-4, one RBI, one run scored performance. (Box Score)
  • Eastern Kentucky University held Indiana State scoreless for 14 innings but still fell to 0-8 on the road this season with a 1-0, 15-inning loss. Senior right-handed pitcher Chris Hord took the loss despite surrendering just one unearned run on three hits in five innings of relief and striking out three batters while walking none. Freshman left-handed pitcher Kyle McGrath started the game for EKU and surrendered four hits in seven scoreless innings while striking out five batters and walking six. EKU junior shortstop Richie Rodriguez was 4-7 at the plate. (Box Score)
  • In game one of a double-header Miami (OH) scored eight runs in the third innings and piled on from there to send Morehead State University to a 16-3 loss. Morehead St. senior right-handed pitcher Trey Smith took the loss after surrendering 11 runs, three of which were earned, on nine hits in three and one-third innings. Junior right fielder Luke Bainer was 3-4 with one RBI at the plate. (Box Score)
  • The Eagles held off a late Miami (OH) rally in game two to earn a double-header split an 8-7 victory. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Cody Gibson earned the win despite surrendering the lead with a run in the eighth inning. Redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Matt Cartwright pitched a scoreless ninth for the save. At the plate sophomore shortstop Austin Haney was 3-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, and redshirt freshman designated hitter Ryan Conner slugged a home run. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: LF Jared Andreoli (WKU)

  • Stats: 3-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
  • Honorable Mention: Matt Rice (WKU), Kes Carter (WKU), Logan Robbins (WKU), Zach Noonan (Murray St.), Ryan Seiz (UofL), Cade Stallings (UofL), Thomas McCarthy (UK), J. T. Riddle (UK), Zach Osborne (Tennessee, PRP), Richie Rodriguez (EKU), Austin Haney (Morehead St.), Luke Bainer (Morehead St.)

Pitcher of the day: RHP Justin Amlung (UofL)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Justin Hageman (WKU), Kyle McGrath (EKU), Chris Hord (EKU)

Saturday roundup: UK blows out UIC; EKU, Murray State, Morehead State pick up first wins of 2011; UofL, WKU lose

College Baseball

BluGrass Baseball graphic

Highlights and recaps from Saturday baseball action:

  • Western Kentucky University dropped its first game of the season with a 6-1 loss to Coastal Carolina in the Baseball at the Beach Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Hilltoppers jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but Coastal Carolina rallied with four runs in the fourth inning helped by a throwing error from WKU junior shortstop Logan Robbins. Freshman right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman took the loss after surrendering four runs, one of which was earned, on three hits in four innings while striking out five batters and walking three. At the plate senior catcher Matt Rice was the only Hilltoppers’ batter with multiple hits and finished the game 2-4. (Box Score)
  • University of Louisville preseason All-American closer Tony Zych blew his first save of the season as Toledo scored three runs in the ninth inning to send the Cards to a 4-2 loss. The loss wasted a second consecutive strong outing from redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher Justin Amlung, who surrendered one run on five hits in six innings while striking out five and walking one. Toledo’s ninth-inning rally began with a throwing error from freshman shortstop Alex Chittenden. Junior second baseman Ryan Wright was 3-3 with a triple, one RBI, one run scored and one walk in the game. Just two other Cards batters tallied hits in the game. (Box Score)
  • The University of Kentucky used a five-run fifth inning to blow open what had been a close game en route to a 13-3 win over Illinois-Chicago in game two of a three-game series. Every UK starter recorded at least one hit in the game, led by senior shortstop Taylor Black, who was 3-5 with a grand slam, four RBI, three runs scored and one walk. Sophomore center fielder Brian Adams and sophomore catcher Luke Maile each tallied three hits in five at-bats. Junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer earned his first win of the season after surrendering three runs on three hits in five innings while striking out seven and walking five. (Box Score)
  • In game one of a double-header Eastern Kentucky University struggled to find any offense in a 7-1 loss to Penn State and fell to 0-4 on the season. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Anthony Bazzani took the loss after surrendering four runs on seven hits in five innings while striking out six and walking two. Freshman third baseman Bryan Soloman was 3-4 with a double and run scored in the game. (Box Score)
  • In game two of its double-header EKU earned its first win of the season with a 7-5 victory in a seven-inning game versus Penn State. Freshman left-handed pitcher Kyle McGrath earned his first collegiate win after surrendering four runs on seven hits in six innings while striking out five and walking one. Junior shortstop Richie Rodriguez was 3-4 with three RBI, and freshman second baseman Alex Arovits was 2-2 with two runs scored in the game. Senior designated hitter Jacob Daniel drove in three runs. Senior closer Ryne Purcell earned his first save of the season despite surrendering one run in the ninth inning. (Box Score)
  • A strong pitching performance from junior left-handed pitcher Luke Shuemaker led Murray State University to its first win of the season in a 6-3 victory over Bowling Green St. in game one of a double-header. Shuemaker surrendered two unearned runs on eight hits in six innings while striking out five batters and walking six. Sophomore shortstop Brandon Elliott was 2-3 with a double and two RBI in the game. Sophomore outfielder Paul Ritzheimer drove in two runs in the game. (Box Score)
  • Murray St. finished its double-header sweep of BGSU with a walk-off 4-3 win in game two. Elliott doubled with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, moved to third and eventually scored on a fielding error by the BGSU pitcher with two outs. The game was scheduled to last just seven innings but the two teams were tied at three after seven. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Will Handlin earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Senior left-handed pitcher Jake Donze surrendered three runs on six hits in seven innings while striking out five batters and walking five. Redshirt freshman outfielder Brandon Eggenschwiler finished the game 2-3 with two RBI and one run scored. (Box Score)
  • In game one of a double-header versus Purdue, Morehead State University turned an early blowout into a close game late but still fell to 0-5 on the season with a 11-8 loss. Junior third baseman Andrew Deeds slugged his first home run of the season for the Eagles, but the early Purdue lead proved to be too much to overcome. Senior right-handed pitcher Trey Smith took the loss after surrendering eight runs in three and two-third innings pitched. (Box Score)
  • In game two of the double-header a RBI-single from junior catcher Eric Bainer in the 11th inning plated redshirt freshman outfielder Ryan Conner to send Morehead St. to its first win of the season, a 10-9 victory. After Purdue scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to take a 7-5 lead, Morehead St. junior catcher Taylor Davis slugged a two-run home run in the bottom of the inning to send the game to extra innings. Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Josh Schneider surrendered five runs on eight hits in six innings while striking out seven batters and walking one. Deeds continued his strong play in the double-header with a 3-6, one RBI, one run scored performance in game two. Junior left-handed pitcher Tyler Hieneman earned the win after surrendering four runs in five innings of relief. (Box Score)

Hitter of the Day: SS Taylor Black (UK)

  • Stats: 3-5, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB
  • Honorable Mention: Ryan Wright (UofL), Brandon Elliott (Murray St.), Richie Rodriguez (EKU), Austin Grisham (EKU), Andrew Deeds (Morehead St.), Taylor Davis (Morehead St.)

Pitcher of the Day: RHP Justin Amlung (UofL)

  • Stats: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Alex Meyer (UK), Jake Donze (Murray St.), Luke Shuemaker (Murray St.), Kyle McGrath (EKU)

2011 lineup projections: Morehead State University

College Baseball

Following the completion of the “offseason position battle” series we will post a lineup project for each of the five division one schools this week. The lineups are based on the position battle posts and are only a guess and what each Opening Day lineup might look like. We will also include weekend rotations, midweek starters and closers for good measure. We are working in reverse order of the 2010 records, begining the series with Morehead State University.

Lineup

  • C — Taylor Davis
  • 1B — Michael Fear
  • 2B — Travis Redmon
  • 3B — Andrew Deeds
  • SS — Austin Haney
  • LF — Daniel Pugh
  • CF — Luke Bainer
  • RF — Ryan Conner
  • DH — Bud Morton

Weekend rotation

  • RHP — Trey Smith
  • RHP — Josh Schneider
  • RHP — Cody Gibson

Midweek starters

  • LHP — Garrick Whittle
  • RHP — Matthew Robertson

Closer

  • LHP Matt Cartwright

*A previous version of  this post incorrectly to identified Ryan Conner as Eric Sanders. This post has also been amended to include information learned after its original publishing.

Offseason position battle: Morehead St. outfielder

College Baseball

In the second Morehead State University post in the “offseason position battle” series we will look at the vacant outfield position.

The departed — All-Ohio Valley Conference outfielder J. D. Ashbrook, a 2010 senior, led Morehead St. in batting (.432), home runs (18), runs scored (69), stolen bases (14), slugging percentage (.795) and on-base percentage (.540) in 2010. The right-handed hitter signed a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox after not being selected in the 2010 MLB draft. Ashbrook started all but one game in center field for the Eagles last season. His .540 on-base percentage led all Kentucky division one collegians in 2010. Outfielder Cameron Flynn, a 2010 sophomore who transferred following the 2010 season, was the only other Eagle to record a start in center field last season.

Returning candidates — Morehead St. senior Daniel Pugh and junior Luke Bainer return in 2011 after making the majority of the starts in left and right field respectively in 2010…Redshirt freshman outfielder Ryan Conner slugged three home runs during the fall Blood Bowl series after sitting out the 2010 season. Morehead St. coach Jason Neal said of Conner following the fall scrimmage series: “It seems that Ryan Conner has given us a big hit every time we have needed one this whole series. His home run in the seventh [inning of game four] to answer their run in the top of the inning was huge.”…Junior utility man Andrew Deeds made two starts in left field in 2010…Sophomore outfielder Winston Brodrick appeared in 15 games for Morehead St. in 2010, going 1-8 on the season. According to Brodrick’s MSU bio he batted a ridiculous .650 with 52 stolen bases as a senior in high school…Freshman outfielder Nick Duff also redshirted during the 2010 season.

Newcomers to watch — Freshman outfielder and left-handed pitcher Duran Elmore is the only new outfielder listed on the Morehead St. roster. Elmore comes to the Eagles after excelling as the primary center fielder for Danville High School. Elmore was honored with a Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association’s first-team all-state selection following his senior year. As a junior Elmore batted .408 with 46 stolen bases.

Wildcard — Conner was the standout among outfield candidates during the fall Blood Bowl series, so the real wild card in this race may come if head coach Jay Sorg decides to move one of the incumbent corner outfielders (Pugh and Bainer) to center and play Conner or another returner in left or right field. At 6-6 Conner may profile better defensively in a corner outfield role than the vacant center field position.