2011 record: 37-21
Coach (seasons, career record): Greg Frady (five, 169-121-1)
Gone: The team lost 15 seniors, who represented three-fourths of its scoring and two-thirds of its innings pitched. Mark Mickowsi, the team's leading hitter (.351 batting average), graduated, as did ace Will Campbell (9-3, 2.86 ERA).
Returning: The team's offense will be led by Brandon Williams (.342 BA in 2011), Drew Shields (.321) and Joey Wood (.309), who combined to score 94 runs last season. Because of injuries, the rotation and bullpen returns a lot of players with experience, but not a lot of results.
Three big ifs for success
- If the rotation can hold on until Justin Malone returns in late March.
- If the team can find a closer to replace Jake Dyer, who moved to the starting rotation.
- If the up-the-middle defense stays steady with several new players.
Schedule
February: 17-19 Western Illinois; 22 at Georgia; 24-26 Austin Peay; 29 at South Carolina Upstate.
March: 2 vs. Southern Illinois; 3 vs. Penn; 4 vs. Stetson; 7 Georgia Tech; 9 Kennesaw State; 10-11 at Kennesaw State; 13 Monmouth; 14 at Mercer; 16-18 Northeastern; 20 at Alabama State; 23-25 James Madison; 28 Savannah State; 30-April 1 at George Mason.
April: 4 Alabama State; 6-8 at Hofstra; 11 Mercer; 13-15 William and Mary; 17 at Georgia Tech; 20-22 at Towson; 27-29 North Carolina Wilmington.
May: 2 South Carolina Upstate; 4-6 at Virginia Commonwealth; 8-9 at North Carolina Asheville; 11-13 Delaware; 17-19 at Old Dominion.
Compiled by Doug Roberson
