CU Baseball Preview - vs. St. Lawrence (5/5-6)

Numerous scenarios remain for the Liberty League Playoff picture and the Clarkson University Baseball team can still be in the mix for the conference championship with a good weekend against Route 11 rival St. Lawrence University. The two teams will meet up for a doubleheader on Saturday at Jack Phillips Stadium and then play two more on Sunday at Tom Fay Field.

Live Stats/Live Video (Saturday – at Clarkson)
Live Stats/Live Video (Sunday – at St. Lawrence)

The Series: The unbalanced schedule in the Liberty League kept the two teams from playing one another two years ago, but the teams split the four-game series in 2017 and Clarkson won three out of four in 2015. Sophomore Joe Stockman enjoyed a big game in Clarkson's game four win against the Saints last season, going 3-for-4 with four runs driven in.

Key Stats for Clarkson (13-15 overall, 8-10 Liberty League): Senior Will Coleman has finished every game he's pitched this year. In five starts, he's gone the distance for five complete games, and he has earned two saves when called upon for relief duties. The control artist is at it again this year, ranking 49th in the country in walks per nine (1.13) while also placing 14th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.6-1). His 1.35 earned run average is easily the best in the Liberty League among starting pitchers and ranks 20th in the nation. He is allowing just a .215/.258/.292 batting line to opponents and has struck out 48 in 40 innings this year. Classmate and fellow starting pitcher Andrew Smith has also performed well, posting a 3.11 earned run average and ranking 31st in the country in walks per nine at 0.96. Clarkson's staff overall is fifth in walks per nine (2.24) and eighth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.22).

Key Stats for St. Lawrence (6-23-1 overall, 5-14-1 Liberty League: While Clarkson excels on the mound, the Saints have struggled mightily. The Saints' 8.27 earned run average is easily the highest in the Liberty League and is the worst in the conference since Vassar posted a 9.19 earned run average in 2009. Only Union (8.10, 2010) has been above 7.80 in the last nine seasons. St. Lawrence's hitters alleviate some of the damage with a .286/.378/.372 line, doing so with just six home runs. Brendon Frank leads the team with a .367.426/.490 slash line and has added 14 stolen bases, which ranks third in the conference. James Cronin (.330/.429/.430) and Evan O'Keeffe (.323/.402/.430) are the team's other two .300 hitters, though good weekends from Taylor Digilio (.298) and Anthony Butler (.291) could extend the group to five.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Will Coleman: RHP/UT; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

#2 Andrew Smith: RHP; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

#10 Joe Stockman: IF; 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Will Coleman
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: RHP/UT

#2 Andrew Smith
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: RHP

#10 Joe Stockman
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#8 Will Coleman

#2 Andrew Smith

#10 Joe Stockman

Players Mentioned

#8 Will Coleman

#2 Andrew Smith

#10 Joe Stockman