Friday, March 24
Davidson, N.C.
6:00 p.m.
Davidson College
vs
Rhode Island
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Baseball Welcomes 2016 A-10 Champs Rhode Island for Weekend
3/23/2017 10:49:00 AM | Baseball
DavidsonPhotos.com
Live Stats | Live Video
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson baseball (11-8, 2-1 A-10) returns to Wilson Field for a three-game home stand, welcoming 2016 Atlantic 10 Champions and 2017 preseason favorites Rhode Island for a 6 p.m. Friday contest, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday games.
Fans can follow each contest through the @dcbaseball_ Twitter account for in-game updates, and can also view the game via the live stats and streaming links provided.
THE SERIES
The 'Cats and Rams have met eight times in program history, with Rhody leading 6-2. Last year, the teams did not meet for a league series, but still played three times, with Rhode Island taking all three affairs. They met at a tournament in Buies Creek, N.C., and then twice in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The teams last played an A-10 series in 2015, with Davidson winning the first game before dropping the final two. In the victory, then-freshman Alec Acosta went 3-for-4, and then-sophomore Jake Sidwell collected a hit and scored.
THE DAVIDSON RUNDOWN
Davidson suffered its third shutout of the season and its second in seven days on Tuesday, falling 7-0 on the road at High Point. Sophomore Justin Lebek registered his sixth multi-hit contest of the year, going 2-for-4. Classmate Austin Leonard and freshman ZJ Zabinski retired nine straight from the fifth to the seventh innings, where Zabinski delivered one of the best performances of his young career. The southpaw went 1.1 innings, retiring four straight, including three straight Ks.
The 'Cats entered the week second in the league in batting average and ERA. The team currently ranks third in batting with a .273 clip. Davidson has several Wildcats who rank in the Top 10 both in the league and in the country, including senior Brian Fortier, who is second in the NCAA in home runs, junior Cam Johnson, 18th in the country with 19 walks, and his classmate Josh Smutzer, who is 10th overall and first in the league with four victories.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
Rhode Island comes to the Tarheel State for the second time this season, after playing in the USA Baseball-Irish Classic in Cary, where they downed then-No. 6 NC State 5-2. The Rams also shut out then-No. 30 Arkansas, and come into the weekend on a 7-10 ledger. Rhody boasts two players with above. 300 averages- Jordan Powell leads at .361, while Chris Hess is second at .348 but carries a team-best 24 hits. Mike Corin serves as the force of power, leading the team with four homers and 13 RBI. Just with last weekend facing St. Bonaventure, Rhody is a threat on the base paths, having swiped 24 of 31 bases already this season. The Rams are the third team the 'Cats will face this season who have received votes in the national polls.
THE MOUND MAKEUP
Friday, March 24, 6:00 p.m.
Jr. RHP Nick Johnson (5.19 ERA, 0-2, 26.0 IP, 27 K) vs. RSr. Durin O'Linger (4.61 ERA, 1-1, 27.1 IP, 28 K)
Saturday, March 25, 2:00 p.m.
RJr. RHP Matt Murphy (3.25 ERA, 2-2, 27.2 IP, 17 K) vs. Jr. Josh Smutzer (3.18 ERA, 4-0, 28.1 IP, 18 K)
Sunday, March 26, 1:00 p.m.
TBA vs. TBA
UP NEXT
Davidson heads back out on the road, traveling to Durham, N.C., to face Duke for a 6:00 p.m. Tuesday tilt.
Live Stats | Live Video
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson baseball (11-8, 2-1 A-10) returns to Wilson Field for a three-game home stand, welcoming 2016 Atlantic 10 Champions and 2017 preseason favorites Rhode Island for a 6 p.m. Friday contest, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday games.
Fans can follow each contest through the @dcbaseball_ Twitter account for in-game updates, and can also view the game via the live stats and streaming links provided.
THE SERIES
The 'Cats and Rams have met eight times in program history, with Rhody leading 6-2. Last year, the teams did not meet for a league series, but still played three times, with Rhode Island taking all three affairs. They met at a tournament in Buies Creek, N.C., and then twice in the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The teams last played an A-10 series in 2015, with Davidson winning the first game before dropping the final two. In the victory, then-freshman Alec Acosta went 3-for-4, and then-sophomore Jake Sidwell collected a hit and scored.
THE DAVIDSON RUNDOWN
Davidson suffered its third shutout of the season and its second in seven days on Tuesday, falling 7-0 on the road at High Point. Sophomore Justin Lebek registered his sixth multi-hit contest of the year, going 2-for-4. Classmate Austin Leonard and freshman ZJ Zabinski retired nine straight from the fifth to the seventh innings, where Zabinski delivered one of the best performances of his young career. The southpaw went 1.1 innings, retiring four straight, including three straight Ks.
The 'Cats entered the week second in the league in batting average and ERA. The team currently ranks third in batting with a .273 clip. Davidson has several Wildcats who rank in the Top 10 both in the league and in the country, including senior Brian Fortier, who is second in the NCAA in home runs, junior Cam Johnson, 18th in the country with 19 walks, and his classmate Josh Smutzer, who is 10th overall and first in the league with four victories.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
Rhode Island comes to the Tarheel State for the second time this season, after playing in the USA Baseball-Irish Classic in Cary, where they downed then-No. 6 NC State 5-2. The Rams also shut out then-No. 30 Arkansas, and come into the weekend on a 7-10 ledger. Rhody boasts two players with above. 300 averages- Jordan Powell leads at .361, while Chris Hess is second at .348 but carries a team-best 24 hits. Mike Corin serves as the force of power, leading the team with four homers and 13 RBI. Just with last weekend facing St. Bonaventure, Rhody is a threat on the base paths, having swiped 24 of 31 bases already this season. The Rams are the third team the 'Cats will face this season who have received votes in the national polls.
THE MOUND MAKEUP
Friday, March 24, 6:00 p.m.
Jr. RHP Nick Johnson (5.19 ERA, 0-2, 26.0 IP, 27 K) vs. RSr. Durin O'Linger (4.61 ERA, 1-1, 27.1 IP, 28 K)
Saturday, March 25, 2:00 p.m.
RJr. RHP Matt Murphy (3.25 ERA, 2-2, 27.2 IP, 17 K) vs. Jr. Josh Smutzer (3.18 ERA, 4-0, 28.1 IP, 18 K)
Sunday, March 26, 1:00 p.m.
TBA vs. TBA
UP NEXT
Davidson heads back out on the road, traveling to Durham, N.C., to face Duke for a 6:00 p.m. Tuesday tilt.
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