PSAC Baseball Tournament Preview

The PSAC Baseball Championship descends on Jack Critchfield Park in Slippery Rock with a brand new, ten-team, single-elimination format. With the top five teams from both the East and West divisions throwing down in a win-or-go-home gauntlet, every single pitch carries season-ending weight. The margin for error is zero, and depth will be tested immediately. Winner of the PSAC Tournament will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Atlantic Regional. The first game begins Wednesday, May 6th at 11 AM ET.

LINKS: PSAC Tournament Central: https://psacsports.org/tournaments/?id=189 Conference Tournament Hub (for game times, video, and live stats): https://www.diviibaseball.com/conf-tournament-hub

PSAC Bracket: https://psacsports.org/tournaments/?id=189

The Play-In Round: Wednesday's Do-Or-Die Matchups

Game 1 features defending champion #4E Millersville against #5W Cal U. Millersville relies heavily on the potent bats of Matthew Williams (.331 BA, 1.071 OPS, 9 HR) and Jimmy Kirk (1.010 OPS, 13 HR, 51 RBI) to set the tone. On the mound, the Marauders will turn to standout freshman starter Eli Simonton (4-2, 54.1 IP, 3.31 ERA) and lockdown closer Joe Morrissey (1.13 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 5 saves over 39.2 innings). Cal U counters with elite contact hitters Connor Evans (.401 BA, 15 2B) and Ikon Jones (.378 BA, 18 stolen bases). The Vulcans will lean on starter Beau Bigam (5-4, 64.2 IP, 5.01 ERA) and shutdown reliever Evan Stranko (1.5 ERA across 30 IP) to keep their season alive.

In Game 2, host #4W Slippery Rock takes on #5E Shepherd. The Rock is fueled offensively by Michael Kitko (.406 BA, 1.039 OPS) and Stone Powell (.341 BA, 1.025 OPS, 9 HR, 48 RBI). Their pitching staff features Cole Grady (4-1, 46.2 IP, 3.09 ERA) and strikeout artist Zachary Hare (3-1, 37.0 IP, 4.38 ERA), who notably has racked up 53 strikeouts in just 37 innings. The bullpen with have the duo of Nolan Comerford (2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3 saves over 30 innings) and Joey Vanzin (2.87 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 5 saves over 37.2 innings). Shepherd brings the heavy lumber with Ryan Fluharty (.395 BA, 15 2B, 9 HR, 51 RBI) and Bodie Pullen (.337 BA, 8 triples, 25-for-25 in stolen bases), but they'll need solid innings from starter Allen Miller (4-4, 57.2 IP, 6.87 ERA) and reliever Jesse Specter (18 appearances, 4.26 ERA) to advance.

The Challengers: Thursday's Elite Clashes

Game 3 pairs the PSAC East Co-Champion #2E East Stroudsburg and #3W Gannon. ESU’s pitching staff is electric, leading the entire PSAC with 382 strikeouts and the best fielding percentage at .982. They are headlined by Ryan Dewees (7-2, 61.1 IP, 2.88 ERA)—who boasts a massive 81 Ks and Evan Hughes (7-2, 51.1 IP, 3.68 ERA) in the rotation. In the bullpen looms Cole Dymek, who posted a 1.64 ERA with 5 saves over 22 innings. Offensively, Troy Davis (.375 BA, 1.042 OPS) and Parker Frey (.362 BA, 1.019 OPS, 15 doubles) pace the Warriors. Gannon hopes Matt Smith (.336 BA, 15 2B, 9 HR, 42 RBI) and Hunter Troiano (.316 BA, 33 RBI) can generate enough run support for starters Jacob Engel (5-3, 56.2 IP, 5.08 ERA) and Ryan Hood (4-2, 45.0 IP, 7.20 ERA).

In Game 6, #2W Indiana (PA) battles #3E Shippensburg. The Raiders are an absolute offensive juggernaut, leading the conference in team batting average (.341), spurred by Thomas Cano-Piszel (.427 BA, 11 HR, 42 RBI), Ty Sherman (.405 BA, 45 RBI), and power bat AJ Wenrich (.342 BA, 1.142 OPS, 12 2B, 11 HR). Shippensburg starter Conner Barto (9-2, 64.2 IP, 4.45 ERA) and reliever Jack Robinson (7 saves, 5.21 ERA) are tasked with slowing down their opponents on the mound. IUP has a lineup starring a pair of players with eight home runs: Ricardo Aponte (.359 BA, 1.142 OPS, 20 SB) and Camden Rhude (.387 BA, 1.138 OPS). The Crimson Hawks will hand the ball starter Derrick Shields (5-1, 60.2 IP, 4.60 ERA) and top reliever Nathan Porath (3.27 ERA in 22 innings with 2 saves).

The Heavyweights: Awaiting the Survivors

The top seeds earned the right to skip Wednesday's chaos. PSAC West Champion #1W Seton Hill paces the PSAC in home runs (59), RBIs (381), and stolen bases (139). Jack Whalen (.381 BA, 44 SBs) and Brady McGuire (.448 BA, 1.189 OPS, 27 SB) are absolute terrors on the basepaths and at the plate, while Jakob Haynes is the power terror with 15 home runs. The Griffins' staff is anchored by Sean Williams (9-1, 55.2 IP, 2.43 ERA), Mark Wechtenhiser (8-1, 57.2 IP, 2.81 ERA), and Luke Deschenes (7-1, 66 IP, 3.14 ERA) who will eagerly await the Millersville/Cal U winner.

Finally, #1E West Chester waits for the Slippery Rock/Shepherd survivor. The Golden Rams possess the stingiest pitching in the conference, leading the PSAC in team ERA (4.07) and batting average against (.270). Julian Costa (9-2, 66.0 IP, 2.45 ERA) and Kyle Lazer (5-1, 47.2 IP, 3.78 ERA) are a suffocating 1-2 punch. If opposing pitchers focus too much on that mound matchup, West Chester's hitters—Hunter Smith (.379 BA, 1.149 OPS, 14 2B) and Austin Stalker (.353 BA, 1.121 OPS, 10 HR)—have the firepower to end a season in a hurry.