D2 Baseball Opening Weekend: Top Performances and Teams to Watch
The D2 baseball season is finally underway. After a long offseason, late January and early February baseball has arrived, bringing plenty of excitement. Here are some of the biggest standout teams and players from opening weekend, in no particular order.
UT Tyler
The Patriots are making a statement. They traveled to Lubbock Christian and swept the series, outscoring nationally ranked LCU 56-24 over four games. That dominant performance secured their spot in our Top 25 rankings this week, along with Nova Southeastern. Sophomore Drew Schmidt was a standout, going 8-for-14 with 10 RBIs.
Barry
Barry started 3-0 with three one-run victories over quality opponents—Wingate, Catawba, and Mount Olive. Each of those teams was either ranked or received votes in our poll. SNHU transfer Harry Vargas Segura wasted no time making an impact, going 7-for-12 with four runs scored and a home run. Jack Ensell also played a key role, picking up two relief wins against Wingate and Catawba while throwing three scoreless innings.
Catawba remains a strong squad, and their ace, Payne Stolsworth, showed why he’s one of the best pitchers in the country. The right-hander tossed seven shutout innings with 11 strikeouts and just one walk against Lynn (SSC).
Pitt State
The Gorillas went 3-0 at a neutral-site event, showing dominance on the mound by allowing just five total runs. Kadyn Williams was a force at the plate, going 6-for-9 with two home runs and six RBIs. Their starting rotation pitched 14 innings, giving up only two earned runs. Kolby Dougan, a Kansas transfer, was exceptional, striking out 12 in five innings against a potent MSU Denver lineup.
Brandham Ponce’s Explosive Debut
After spending two years at Washington State, Central Washington’s Brandham Ponce made a massive impact in his debut weekend. He launched five home runs and finished 7-for-16 with six extra-base hits, eight RBIs, and six runs scored in a series sweep over Stanislaus State. Keep an eye on him moving forward.
North Greenville’s Offensive Explosion
NGU raked this weekend, scoring 63 runs in a sweep over USC Beaufort. Thomas Powell had a stellar performance, going 6-for-9 with five RBIs and a double. He also reached base in 77% of his plate appearances after being hit by three pitches and drawing a walk. South Carolina transfer Tristan Salinas contributed, going 5-for-12 with five RBIs. NGU is heading to Hawaii this week and has now won 11 consecutive road games—the longest active streak in D2 baseball.
Angelo State: An Offensive Powerhouse
Angelo State is one of the top teams in the nation, and they showed why this weekend. Their offense is stacked with talent, including Tayten Tredaway, Austin Beck, Jacob Guerrero, Justin Harris, Lane Hutchinson, Ethan Flodstrom, Brett Smajstrla, and Weston Valasek. They hit .445 as a team in a dominant four-game sweep over UTPB, outscoring them 51-7.
A marquee matchup looms as Angelo State faces UT Tyler this weekend in a showdown between two Top 25 teams. Lane Hutchinson, a former UT Tyler standout, returns to face his old team. On the mound, the Rams boast two of the top strikeout threats in the country: Dax Dathe and Caleb Heuertz.
Regis Power Surge
Regis flexed its muscle at the plate, with five players hitting multiple home runs over the weekend. Jack Moulin and Preseason First-Team All-American Adam Paniagua both went deep three times. The Rangers launched 13 home runs and hit .427 as a team, taking three of four games from Northwest Missouri State.
Harding’s Strong Rotation
The GAC is shaping up to be highly competitive again this year, with teams like UAM, Southern Arkansas, and Arkansas Tech in the mix. Harding, however, has a rotation worth watching, led by Merritt Jay and Maddox Long. Long, a proven and experienced pitcher, could help lead the Bisons to a strong season.
Tampa Stays Dominant
Tampa swept a Top 25 opponent and once again showed why they are the best team in the nation. Even with Alberto Osuna transferring to Tennessee, they remain loaded. It was also great to see JD Urso back at the D2 level.
Jefferson Impresses in Houston
Jefferson went 2-1 in Houston, earning wins over Arkansas Tech and Mississippi College while falling 11-8 to UCM. It was a strong showing for the Rams.
Missouri Southern
Drew Townsend (5-for-11) and Ethan Clark (7-for-13) led the offense in a 3-0 weekend for Missouri Southern. Cole Gayman allowed four runs in 4.2 innings, but he remains one of the top arms in the country. Also of note in the MIAA: UCM’s Connor Wolf, a preseason All-American, did not tie the rubber this weekend for the Mules after a 12-0 season last year.
Extra-Inning Thrillers
There were 13 extra-inning games this weekend, including a 13-inning marathon where Central Washington edged Stanislaus State 6-5 in the season opener.
Francis Marion’s Strong Start Under Jeff Jefferson
First-year head coach Jeff Jefferson led FMU to a 3-0 start with a sweep over Tusculum.
Ashland’s Rotation
Ashland boasts a strong rotation with Cam Scott, Marshall Leishman, and Brendan Beaver. While Beaver struggled in his first outing, he is one of the most proven arms in D2 baseball, having previously been a conference Pitcher of the Year in 2023 and returning to D2 after being at the D1 level last season.
Nova Southeastern Climbs the Rankings
Nova Southeastern entered our Top 25 after a 3-1 start, including wins over Catawba and two victories against Delta State. Key transfer Federico Zapata made an immediate impact, earning two wins on the mound. Zapata, who recorded 18 saves over two seasons at Barry, is proving to be a valuable bullpen asset for the Sharks.
DJ Van Atten Returns to D2
After spending 2024 at the Division I level, DJ Van Atten is back in D2 baseball. He started 2-for-9 with a pair of doubles for Oklahoma Baptist over the opening weekend.
Florida Southern’s Strong Start
Florida Southern took two of three against West Florida in what was an excellent start to the Rick O’Dette era after a tough 18-30 season in 2024.
9 Upcoming Series to Watch (Feb. 7-9)
#21 Millersville at RV Wingate (3-game series)
RV Regis at CSU San Bernardino (4-game series)
Arkansas Tech at #3 Central Missouri (4-game series)
Quincy at Lincoln Memorial (3-game series)
Rollins at RV West Florida (3-game series)
Georgia Southwestern at Florida Southern (3-game series)
#7 Colorado Mesa at Cal Poly Pomona (4-game series)
Lander at RV Mount Olive (3-game series)
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