Games 1, 2 & 3
Sacred Heart at Nicholls State
Non-Conference
Friday, February 16 - 7 p.m. (EST)
Saturday, February 17 - 7 p.m. (EST)
Sunday, February 18 - 1 p.m. (EST)
Didier Field - Thibodaux, La.
It may not be springtime weather in the Northeast just yet, but it's time for the offseason to once again fade into the darkness of winter. Happy baseball season, friends!
The Sacred Heart University baseball team opens its 2024 campaign in the Pelican State this weekend, with a trio of games against Southland Conference member Nicholls State. For the Pios, it's the first of three straight weekends of serious travel, before they open the Northeast Conference schedule at Fairleigh Dickinson, March 8-10.
First pitch is set for 7 p.m. (EST) both Friday and Saturday at the Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field, with Sunday's series finale to follow at 1 p.m. (EST). Didier Field has been home to Colonels baseball since 1960. Nicholls State will provide live stats throughout the weekend series.
A LOOK AT THE PIOS
Sacred Heart (28-30, 17-13 NEC in 2023) enjoyed a resurgence last year. Picked to finish eighth in the NEC, the Pioneers took fourth instead, posted their highest win total since 2016 and made a run to the semifinal round of the NEC Championship before falling to eventual league champion Central Connecticut State.
SHU will need to replace the offensive production of Los Angeles Dodgers draftee
Sam Mongelli, plus the departed bats of
Justin Jordan and
Ryan Donnelly, among others. The pitching staff remains largely intact though, as the Pios return each of their five leading innings-eaters from a year ago, highlighted by staff ace and All-NEC Second Team pick
Jake Babuschak (Jobstown, N.J.), who struck out 70 over 81.1 innings with a 3.65 ERA last season.
SCOUTING THE COLONELS
Nicholls State (34-24, 15-9 Southland in 2023) captured both the regular-season and tournament titles in the Southland Conference last year to return to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1998, and the fourth time overall. The Colonels are the preseason favorite in the Southland for 2024 and boast six Preseason All-League selections. First baseman Edgar Alvarez (.330/.419/.532 in 2023), shortstop Parker Coddou (.291/.354/.474) and starting pitcher Jacob Meyers (75.2 IP, 105 K, 2.02 ERA) all return to the fold for Nicholls State after earning All-Southland First team honors a year ago.
ON THE MOUND
Sacred Heart projected starters:
Friday:
Jake Babuschak (RHP)
2023 stats: 81.1 IP, 81 H, 40 R (33 ER), 31 BB, 70 K, 3.65 ERA, 1.38 WHIP
Saturday:
Elijah Foster (RHP)
2023 stats (Seton Hall Prep): 35.2 IP, 18 H, 13 R (12 ER), 18 BB, 62 K, 2.36 ERA
Sunday:
Jonathan Peterson (LHP)
2023 stats (Monmouth Univ.): 7.0 IP, 13 H, 12 R (10 ER), 12 BB, 8 K, 12.86 ERA, 3.57 WHIP
Nicholls State top returning starters:
Jacob Mayers (RHP)
2023 stats: 75.2 IP, 44 H, 21 R, 17 ER, 58 BB, 105 K, 2.02 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
Devin Desandro (RHP)
2023 stats: 51.0 IP, 63 H, 41 R, 34 ER, 12 BB, 26 K, 6.00 ERA, 1.47 WHIP
Michael Quevedo (LHP)
2023 stats: 40.1 IP, 48 H, 27 R, 26 ER, 18 BB, 24 K, 5.80 ERA, 1.64 WHIP
LAST TIME AGAINST THE COLONELS
The teams last met for a pair of games at Nicholls State in 2018, with the host Colonels winning both games. Nicholls State plated 14 runs in the second inning en route to a 21-6 victory on March 6, and then four arms combined to author a five-hit shutout in a 10-0 Colonels win on March 7.
ALL-TIME AGAINST NICHOLLS STATE
The two teams have previously played eight games against each other, all at Nicholls State, with the Colonels posting a 6-2 record. In addition to the aforementioned 2018 contests, Nicholls State took two out of three from SHU when the Pioneers made trips to Louisiana in both 2013 and 2016. On both of those occasions, Sacred Heart dropped the first two games before salvaging the series finale.
NEXT UP
SHU is back down south next weekend for a three-game series against Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee Tech, on Feb. 23-25 in Cookeville, Tenn.
