Baseball 2024 HCAC Tournament Preview

The fifth-seeded Anderson University baseball team (23-17) faces off with fourth-seeded Mount St. Joseph University (20-19) on Thursday at 1:15 p.m. at Kokomo Municipal Stadium in Kokomo to kick off Anderson's first game in the four-day Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament.

Anderson put together a 13-9 conference record on the season. Hanover College (26-14) captured the regular-season title with a 17-5 conference record. Transylvania University (30-10) took the No. 2 seed with a 15-7 conference record. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (23-7) edged Mount St. Joseph for the No. 3 seed on a tiebreaker as the two teams held identical HCAC records of 14-8. Defending HCAC Tournament Champion Franklin College (20-20) punched its ticket on the final day as the No. 6 seed with a 9-13 conference record, beating out Manchester University (16-24) for the final spot on a tiebreaker.

INTERVIEW WITH COACH MATHEW BAIR

1. How has your team performed so far this season?

We've performed well this year, and have learned a lot about ourselves and the team in the process. Every season is going to have some highs and lows, but the bond these guys have and the commitment they have made to each other, and to live as champions is most noted. AU Baseball is notorious for playing our best baseball come tournament time and I anticipate this year's team to be no different. I'm so proud of these guys, and the sacrifices they've made, for us to where we are today.

2. What do you expect of the competition in the conference tournament?

Every team in this tournament has earned it, and all are great programs with tremendous talent and coaching. I expect it to be tough and that's exactly what we thrive off of.

3. What does your team need to do to be successful?

We need to simply be present in the moment at all times.

HCAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (Kokomo | Kokomo Municipal Stadium)

Thursday, May 9
GAME 1: #3 Rose-Hulman vs. #6 Franklin, 10 am
GAME 2: #4 Mount St. Joseph vs. #5 Anderson, 1:15 pm
GAME 3: #1 Hanover vs. Lowest Seed Remaining Between Game 1 and Game 2 Winners, 4:30 pm
GAME 4: #2 Transylvania vs. Best Seed Remaining Between Game 1 and Game 2 Winners, 7:45 pm
 
Friday, May 10
GAME 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 10 am
GAME 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:15 pm
GAME 7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 pm
GAME 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 7:45 pm
 
Saturday, May 11
GAME 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 1 pm
GAME 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 4:30 pm
 
Sunday, May 12
* GAME 11: Repeat of Game 10 (only if Game 9 winner wins Game 10), 12 pm
*If Necessary Game