Ravens Kick Off Season with No. 17 Wisconsin-Whitewater/(RV) Spalding

The Anderson University baseball team kicks off the season by facing the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Spalding University this weekend in Louisville, Ky.

SETTING THE SCENE

Anderson battles Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Ravens close out Saturday by facing Spalding at 7 p.m. Anderson then takes on Spalding on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Wisconsin-Whitewater is ranked No. 17 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) preseason poll and received two first-place votes. Spalding is receiving votes in the NCBWA preseason poll.

HCAC OUTLOOK

Last Season, Anderson went 21-16 overall with a 10-8 record in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action to tie for third place in the conference standings. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology put together a 27-12 overall record and a 14-2 HCAC record to win the regular-season conference title. As a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, Franklin College went 3-0 in the HCAC Tournament to capture the conference-tournament title and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

Franklin was picked as HCAC preseason favorite this season with 94 points and six first-place votes. Rose-Hulman came in second with 86 points and two first-place votes. Anderson was selected third with 81 points and one first-place vote. Transylvania University was slotted fourth with 69 points and the final first-place vote. Earlham College was selected fifth with 46 points and was picked to finish ahead of Hanover College (45), Defiance College (44), Manchester University (40), Bluffton University (32) and Mount St. Joseph University (13), which rounds out the HCAC preseason poll.

The Ravens expect to begin their annual pursuit of a conference title.

"Our goals every year are to help these guys grow personally, professionally and on the field of play," Coach Mathew Bair said. "We want to be champions in every aspect of our lives, and ultimately raise the trophy at the end of every season."

A LOOK AT THE RAVENS

Anderson brings back a wealth of experience in 17 returning seniors. The Ravens return 96.3 percent of last year's innings as well as 95.3 percent of last year's at bats.

"Our strength is in our leadership," said Bair, who enters his third year as head coach of the Ravens. "We have a great group of seniors that understand the expectations of our program, and are doing a great job of passing their knowledge and love for our program down to our younger players."

Junior Joe Moran returns for the Ravens after being named the HCAC Most Valuable Player as well as a first-team all-HCAC selection as a pitcher. He was tabbed with American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings second-team all-region honors as well D3baseball.com third-team all-region recognition. Moran was also named as a Northwoods League All Star during the Summer.

As a hitter, Moran went 46-for-127 with a .362 batting average, a .478 on-base percentage, a .535 slugging percentage, five home runs, 25 RBIs, 27 runs and 20 stolen bases. Moran ranked fourth in the HCAC in stolen bases. On the mound, Moran went 7-1, struck out 66 batters, issued 28 walks and allowed 26 runs (21 earned) on 48 hits in 59 innings. Moran tied for first in the HCAC in wins and finished third in the conference in strikeouts.

Senior Thomas Parker earned second-team all-HCAC honors last season. The outfielder from Huntington went 36-for-130 with a .277 batting average, 10 doubles, three triples, 25 RBIs, 28 runs and 26 stolen bases. Parker led the conference and ranked 26th in the nation with 0.72 stolen bases per game. He was also selected as a Prospect League All-Star during the summer.

Senior Nick Jones was named a second-team all-conference selection last season. The shortstop from New Castle finished 40-for-153 with a .261 batting average last season. Jones put together a .973 fielding percentage at shortstop.

Senior Adam Paschal received all-HCAC Honorable Mention last season. The catcher from Muncie racked up a .988 fielding percentage at catcher. Paschal was also named an Indiana Collegiate Summer League (ICSL) All-Star.

Senior Grant Thompson went 19-for-66 with a .288 batting average last year. The outfielder from Selma made the HCAC All-Tournament Team after going 4-for-9 with a double, a homer and four RBIs. Thompson was also tabbed an ICSL All-Star.

Junior Clayton White went 5-0 with a 2.82 ERA last year. The right-handed pitcher from Greenfield struck out 32 batters, scattered 16 walks and gave up 17 runs (14 earned) on 35 hits in 44 and two-thirds innings. White ranked fifth in the HCAC in ERA.

Junior Kasey Henderson went 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA last season. He fanned 25 batters, allowed 14 walks and yielded 15 runs on 29 hits in 32 innings. Henderson was named a Midwest Prospect Baseball League All-Star during the Summer.

Senior Tyler Burton went 36-for-120 with a .300 batting average, eight doubles and three homers last season.

Junior T.J. Price turned in a 21-for-71 performance last season with a .296 batting average and a .535 slugging percentage.

Senior Chuck Kidd went 32-for-113 with a .283 batting average, a .433 on-base percentage, eight doubles and 26 RBIs.

Junior M.J. Furnish contributed a .283 batting average, going 13-for-46 at the plate.

Senior Jordan May went 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA last season. He punched out 17 batters, issued 10 walks and surrendered nine runs (five earned) on 11 hits in 14 innings.

Senior Johnathan Willoughby went 33-for-137 with a 241 batting average.

Brooks Bireley returns after missing most of the 2019 season due to injury. The senior from Brownsburg compiled a .324 batting average during the 2018 season, going 34-for-105 with eight doubles and 26 RBIs.

Branton Sanders also missed most of the 2019 season due to injury. In 15 games during the 2018 season, the senior from Whiteland went 22-for-53 with a .415 batting average, 10 stolen bases and 21 RBIs.

Senior Kennedy Parker went 3-2 with a 4.75 ERA. He struck out 29 batters, issued 24 walks and yielded 28 runs (25 earned) on 51 hits in 47 and one-third innings.

Senior Andrew Rolfsen finished 3-4 last year. He fanned 44 batters, gave up 21 walks and allowed 30 runs (27 earned) on 34 hits in 34 innings.

Also returning for the Ravens are seniors Jackson Bland, Hunter Cornelius, Kyle Hall, Logan Long, Leo Marrero, Anthony Rossok, juniors Bennie Day, Dustin Dowden, Zach Lane, sophomores Nick Bland, Kyle Gardner, Kyle Pendleton, Stephen Vickery, Zach Wagner and Chandler Wise.

The Ravens ranked eighth in the nation with 2.89 stolen bases per game. Anderson led the HCAC last season in stolen bases per game, fielding percentage (.967), strikeouts per nine innings (8.2) and hits allowed per nine innings (8.86).

"We return a very veteran team this season. As long as we can stay healthy, there should be many who make great impacts throughout the season, both on and off the field."

RAVENS ON THE RISE

Sophomores Evan Doan, Jason Hall-Manley and Tyler Young join the varsity Raven squad this season.

Freshmen Rene Casas Jr., Dillon Kinnett, Jose Olivo, Josh Price, Brady Reed, Justin Reed, Grahm Reedy, Tyler Smitherman, Walker Stull and Cole Whitlock each look to make an impact with their first season with the Ravens.

"We are really excited about this incoming 2019 class, and we know their future will be bright. Not only are they extremely skilled, but they are also great men of character."

TAKING ON THE BEST

With the expectation of competing at the top of the conference and among the nation's elite, Anderson has compiled one of the tougher schedules in the country. Anderson has slated eight games with teams that at least received votes in the NCBWA preseason poll, including three games on opening weekend.

On Feb. 22, the Ravens challenge Baldwin Wallace University, which is receiving votes in the national preseason poll, as well as NCAA Division III College World Series Participant No. 5 Heidelberg University. The Ravens get another crack at No. 17 Wisconsin-Whitewater as the two teams battle on Feb. 29 at Grand Park in Westfield.

During Anderson's Spring Break Trip, the Ravens face another NCAA Division College World Series participant in No. 2 Webster University. The Ravens also battle No. 24 Rowan University.

"Everything we do is in preparation for our conference season. Our schedule is no different. We want to challenge our guys with a strength of schedule that not only best prepares us for our conference run, but will highlight aspects of the game where we are strong and need work."

LOOKING AHEAD

Anderson will host Greenville University for this year's annual Victory Field Game on April 7 at 6 p.m. in Indianapolis at Victory Field.

The Ravens face off with Transylvania University on April 11 for Future Ravens Camp Appreciation Day with the HCAC doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. at Don Brandon Field.

"We are excited to invite our winter campers back to campus to join us for a day at Don Brandon Field."

Anderson is set to host Senior Day on April 25 in an HCAC doubleheader against Hanover College, beginning at 1 p.m. at Don Brandon Field.

KEYS FOR SUCCESS

"With a strong strength of schedule we will need to maintain our maturity and confidence when it comes to the ebbs and flows of a season, all the while keeping our eyes on our goals this season."

THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES – (Louisville, Ky.)

Saturday, February 15

Anderson vs. #17 Wisconsin-Whitewater – 3:30 p.m. (Live Stats)

Anderson at (RV) Spalding – 7 p.m. (Live Stats)

Sunday, February 16

Anderson at (RV) Spalding – 3:30 p.m. (Live Stats)