'Roo Baseball Set to Open 2013 Season

The Austin College baseball team is ready to open the 2013 campaign under third year head coach James Rise, with the 'Roos taking the field on Saturday against Occidental College to start a four game weekend series. The 'Roos will be looking to their upperclass leadership and some talented young pitchers as they try to improve on last season's 8-28 overall record.

The 'Roos return All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference utility player Tyler Appelquist, who earned 1st Team honors in his first season as a first baseman last season after hitting .368 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in to lead Austin College offensively. Also back is infielder Mason Leech, another All-Conference performer who batted .318 with four doubles and 11 RBI last year.

Austin College also returns several talented second year players in the infield, including Josh Coughennower, Dylan Day, and Will Schommer. Last season Coughennower started at third base and hit .269 with 15 RBI, while Day and Schommer both saw time at second base. Day hit .333 on the year while also serving as a designated hitter, while Schommer started 27 games last year.

Other key returners this season include Travis Gibson, Shane Williams, Landon Hendrix, and Ryan Hayes, who all saw significant playing time in the outfield last year. Todd Takabuki is back for his second season at Austin College after appearing in 20 games as a DH and first baseman as a freshman, and junior Colt Herron returns after hitting .349 in 18 games, getting 10 starts at third base. Herron is also expected to be a strong contributor on the mound.

The pitching staff will be anchored by sophomores Marshall Korn and Blaine Tew, who both saw plenty of action a year ago. Korn appeared in 10 games, starting six, and had a 4.04 earned run average with 22 strikeouts in 42.1 innings of work. Tew appeared in 16 games, starting seven, and had a 6.71 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 57.2 innings of work, which was the second highest innings total on the pitching staff last year.

The 'Roos open up the 2013 season on Saturday, February 2 with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m., and close out their weekend series on Sunday, February 3 with another doubleheader starting at 10:00 a.m.