Friday, February 25
DeLand, Fla.
6:30 P.M.
Columbia University
at
Stetson
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin
Baseball Returns To Action; Opens 2022 At Stetson
2/24/2022 5:27:00 PM | Baseball
Columbia Baseball will hit the field for the first time since 2020 with a three-game series at Stetson.
DELAND, Fla. — Finally, Columbia Baseball (0-0, 0-0 IVY) is back.
For the first in what will be 719 days, the Lions will take the diamond when they play a three-game series at Stetson (2-2, 0-0 ASUN) starting on Friday, Feb. 25 (6:30 p.m.), running through Saturday, Feb. 26 (6:30 p.m.) and wrapping up on Sunday, Feb. 27 (1 p.m.) at Melching Field at Conrad Park.
HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW
GM 1: at Stetson (6:30 p.m.) – Live Stats | Watch (HatterVision) | Social Media (@culionsbaseball)
GM 2: at Stetson (6:30 p.m.) – Live Stats | Watch (HatterVision) | Social Media (@culionsbaseball)
GM 3: at Stetson (1 p.m.) – Live Stats | Watch (HatterVision) | Social Media (@culionsbaseball)
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS:
GM1: Sean Higgins (RHP/COL) – Danny Garcia (RHP/STET)
- 1 GS / 0-0 / 3.86 ERA / 7.0 IP
GM2: JD Ogden (LHP/COL) – Jonathan Gonzalez (LHP/STET)
- First career start - 1 GS / 0-1 / 6.00 ERA / 6.0 IP
GM3: Billy Black (RHP/COL) – Cole Stallings (RHP/STET)
- 1 GS / 0-0 / 0.00 ERA / 4.1 IP
SERIES MATCHUP: Columbia and Stetson will meet for the first-time since 2011, when the Lions lost 7-6 at Stetson. There had been quite the gap between the two sides, as the two programs did not meet from 1986-2003 and overall Stetson holds an 7-0 advantage over the Lions.
WHAT THE HATTERS BRING: The Hatters sit at 2-2 so far this season, having a win over Delaware (Feb. 18) and Manhattan (Feb. 20). All four of their games have been at home and their two losses have come at the hands of top 15 opponents, having lost to No. 4 Notre Dame (Feb. 19/3-5) and No. 15 Florida (Feb. 22/1-8).
As a team they are hitting .230, averaging 3.5 runs per game while allowing 5.0 runs per game. On the bases they have been solid, successfully stealing four bags on six attempts. On the mound, Stetson brings a team ERA of 4.25 and opponents are hitting .264. Stetson pitchers have also recorded 41 strike outs while only giving up 11 walks.
FINALLY BACK: The Lions last took to the field on Mar. 8, 2020 in the final game of a four game series they played at Nebraska. When they take the field at Stetson, it will be the first time they have played in 719 days.
"It was good to get everyone back in the fall," said head coach Brett Boretti. "The team has had great leadership over the past two years and there is a lot of anticipation ahead of opening day to get back on the field.
"It's part one of the season, as we try and figure out what everyone's rolls are and what are best lineups are. We've got a lot of new guys, but this opening weekend will be a great test to see what we have versatility wise."
PRESEASON PICKS: Columbia was picked to finish second in the Ivy League preseason poll. The Lions, who tied with Yale for the most first-place votes at five, finished six points ahead of Penn, who were picked to finish third.
2022 Ivy League Baseball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Yale – 107 (5)
2. Columbia – 102 (5)
3. Penn – 96 (4)
4. Harvard – 92 (2)
5. Dartmouth – 72
6. Princeton – 47
7. Brown – 35
8. Cornell –25
MILESTONES AHEAD: Boretti reached the 400-win plateau during the 2019 season and his 294 wins with the Lions are third all-time, three away from moving into second place on the program's all-time win list. Boretti's 168 Ivy League wins and .596 winning percentage in conference play are both program benchmarks.
DID YOU KNOW: Every student-athlete that has played for Boretti in his 17-year tenure, and remained on Columbia's roster for at least three years, has either won a conference title or competed in an Ivy League Playoff Series.
LIONS IN THE PROS: Columbia currently has one player in the professional ranks as Josh Simpson '19CC, a left-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2019, remains in their system having spent time pitching as high as Single-A ball.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Baseball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsBaseball), Instagram (@culionsbaseball) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
For the first in what will be 719 days, the Lions will take the diamond when they play a three-game series at Stetson (2-2, 0-0 ASUN) starting on Friday, Feb. 25 (6:30 p.m.), running through Saturday, Feb. 26 (6:30 p.m.) and wrapping up on Sunday, Feb. 27 (1 p.m.) at Melching Field at Conrad Park.
HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW
GM 1: at Stetson (6:30 p.m.) – Live Stats | Watch (HatterVision) | Social Media (@culionsbaseball)
GM 2: at Stetson (6:30 p.m.) – Live Stats | Watch (HatterVision) | Social Media (@culionsbaseball)
GM 3: at Stetson (1 p.m.) – Live Stats | Watch (HatterVision) | Social Media (@culionsbaseball)
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS:
GM1: Sean Higgins (RHP/COL) – Danny Garcia (RHP/STET)
- 1 GS / 0-0 / 3.86 ERA / 7.0 IP
GM2: JD Ogden (LHP/COL) – Jonathan Gonzalez (LHP/STET)
- First career start - 1 GS / 0-1 / 6.00 ERA / 6.0 IP
GM3: Billy Black (RHP/COL) – Cole Stallings (RHP/STET)
- 1 GS / 0-0 / 0.00 ERA / 4.1 IP
SERIES MATCHUP: Columbia and Stetson will meet for the first-time since 2011, when the Lions lost 7-6 at Stetson. There had been quite the gap between the two sides, as the two programs did not meet from 1986-2003 and overall Stetson holds an 7-0 advantage over the Lions.
WHAT THE HATTERS BRING: The Hatters sit at 2-2 so far this season, having a win over Delaware (Feb. 18) and Manhattan (Feb. 20). All four of their games have been at home and their two losses have come at the hands of top 15 opponents, having lost to No. 4 Notre Dame (Feb. 19/3-5) and No. 15 Florida (Feb. 22/1-8).
As a team they are hitting .230, averaging 3.5 runs per game while allowing 5.0 runs per game. On the bases they have been solid, successfully stealing four bags on six attempts. On the mound, Stetson brings a team ERA of 4.25 and opponents are hitting .264. Stetson pitchers have also recorded 41 strike outs while only giving up 11 walks.
FINALLY BACK: The Lions last took to the field on Mar. 8, 2020 in the final game of a four game series they played at Nebraska. When they take the field at Stetson, it will be the first time they have played in 719 days.
"It was good to get everyone back in the fall," said head coach Brett Boretti. "The team has had great leadership over the past two years and there is a lot of anticipation ahead of opening day to get back on the field.
"It's part one of the season, as we try and figure out what everyone's rolls are and what are best lineups are. We've got a lot of new guys, but this opening weekend will be a great test to see what we have versatility wise."
PRESEASON PICKS: Columbia was picked to finish second in the Ivy League preseason poll. The Lions, who tied with Yale for the most first-place votes at five, finished six points ahead of Penn, who were picked to finish third.
2022 Ivy League Baseball Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Yale – 107 (5)
2. Columbia – 102 (5)
3. Penn – 96 (4)
4. Harvard – 92 (2)
5. Dartmouth – 72
6. Princeton – 47
7. Brown – 35
8. Cornell –25
MILESTONES AHEAD: Boretti reached the 400-win plateau during the 2019 season and his 294 wins with the Lions are third all-time, three away from moving into second place on the program's all-time win list. Boretti's 168 Ivy League wins and .596 winning percentage in conference play are both program benchmarks.
DID YOU KNOW: Every student-athlete that has played for Boretti in his 17-year tenure, and remained on Columbia's roster for at least three years, has either won a conference title or competed in an Ivy League Playoff Series.
LIONS IN THE PROS: Columbia currently has one player in the professional ranks as Josh Simpson '19CC, a left-handed pitcher who was drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2019, remains in their system having spent time pitching as high as Single-A ball.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Baseball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsBaseball), Instagram (@culionsbaseball) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
Players Mentioned
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