As big as Wednesday night's win was against ECU, this weekend series on the road against the Tribe is nearly as big. We can't afford a letdown where we lose this series against an inferior opponent, or else all the pollsters will see when it comes time to vote on Monday is that we had a 2-2 or 1-3 week.
Landen Roupp (1-2, 4.91 ERA, 24 K's, 9 BB's, .247 BAA, 22.0 IP) and Luke Gesell (2-0, 2.42 ERA, 19 K's, 3 BB's, .241 BAA, 22.1 IP) will start, as expected, for the doubleheader games on Saturday, which start at noon. Each of them will be making their 5th start of the season. Freshman Ryan Calvert (0-0, 6.23 ERA, 12 K's, 6 BB's, .297 BAA, 8.2 IP) gets the nod on Sunday for his 4th start of the '21 campaign.
W&M (2-8, 1-2, # 236 RPI) counters with these projected starters:
* RHP
Wade Strain (Gr.): 2-1, 2.45 ERA, 16 K's, 3 BB's, .225 BAA, 18.2 IP (4th start)
* LHP
Zach Tsakounis (Jr.): 0-1, 5.62 ERA, 8 K's, 2 BB's, .300 BAA, 8.0 IP (2nd start)
* RHP
Ben Greenspon (So.): 0-2, 3.65 ERA, 5 K's, 2 BB's, .356 BAA, 12.1 IP (4th start)
W&M's offense has been anemic so far this season. Only once have they scored more than 4 runs in a game, a 7-3 victory over Charleston last Friday. They have only had 2 standout hitters, sophomore 3B
Ben Williamson (.343, 3 RBI, .457 SLG, .400 OBP) and junior CF
Jack Cone (.303, 3 RBI, .424 SLG, .368 OBP).
As a team, W&M only has 3 HR on offense thru 10 games, with a .199 team batting average, .301 SLG and .292 OBP. They have also struggled on defense, having committed 14 errors (.961 Fielding).
The Tribe pitching has not been much better, either. W&M has a 6.35 team ERA and has allowed opposing hitters to bat .311 against them.
Redshirt senior righty
Michael Zubovich (0-0, 3.38 ERA, 3 K's, 2 BB's, .361 BAA, 8.0 innings) has been the most trusted arm out of the pen, having made 3 appearances and pitched reasonably well. Freshman righty
Garrett Newsome has made 4 appearances and held opponents to bat just .211 against him. However, thanks to a lack of command (2 hit batters and 2 wild pitches), his ERA sits at 5.40. Still, he likely represents the most promising pen arm going forward as he develops.
https://uncwsports.com/news/2021/3/19/ba...-mary.aspx
Baseball 3/19/2021 1:00:00 PM Tom Riordan
Baseball Preview: at William & Mary
Seahawks visit Williamsburg to open conference play
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Fresh off a win over nationally-ranked East Carolina in midweek action, UNCW looks to carry their momentum into this weekend's Colonial Athletic Association series at William & Mary.
The Seahawks (11-3) charged past ECU, 10-2, after allowing a pair of runs in the top of the first. UNCW starter Jacob Shafer allowed four hits over his five innings, but just one after the third inning. The bullpen combined to allow just three base runners over the final four innings.
Brooks Baldwin collected a career-high four hits as the Seahawk lineup posted a season-high 17 hits with each starter getting at least one.
The Tribe (2-8, 1-2 CAA) dropped its CAA opening series last weekend at the College of Charleston and did not have a midweek contest.
Landen Roupp, Luke Gesell and Ryan Calvert are UNCW's projected starters for the series, which opens with a doubleheader on Saturday.
All three games will be streamed and aired locally in Wilmington on The Breeze 95.9 FM.