Gameday! Spiders (19-2, 3-0) take their 12-game win streak up to Philadelphia to take on Saint Joseph's (6-13, 1-2). Here are the game times and probable starters for Richmond:
- Friday, 3PM (Stream on ESPN+), Esteban Rodriguez (1-1, 16.1 IP, 2.20 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 14 Ks, .234 BAA)
- Saturday, 2PM (Stream on ESPN+), Chase Topolski (2-1, 24.2 IP, 4.03 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 17 Ks, .250 BAA)
- Sunday, 1PM (No stream), Jackson Hinchliffe (NR, 11 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 7 Ks, .233 BAA)
The Hawks have lost three in a row, and five of their last six, and dropped their first A10 series of the year in St Louis. Offense has been a major problem this season, as they are only averaging 5 runs per game, and hitting .245 as a team. They also do not steal a ton of bases (24 on 26 attempts).
Carson Applegate leads the SJU offense, and he is hitting .291 this year with 2 home runs and a team leading 5 doubles and 15 RBIs. He is a transfer from Kentucky and was part of the team that made it to Omaha for the first time, though he only appeared in two games. His season average had been as high as .381 six games into the season before falling back down to earth a bit. He does ride a three game hit and RBI streak into this series though.
The most decorated player so far for the Hawks has been LHP
Colton Book. Quite an interesting career for the Redshirt Junior. He spent three seasons at Stony Brook: as a Freshman (2022) was named to the America East All-Rookie team, did not make an appearance in 2023 (injury?), and then in 2024 pitched 25.2 innings with a 10.52 ERA (ouch). However this year, he has dazzled on the mound, and has already picked up two A10 Pitcher of the week awards (2/17, 2/24) and College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Week on 2/24, after he 7 inning, 1 hit shutout with 14 Ks against Mount St. Marys. On the season, Book has made 5 starts, pitched over 30 innings, and sports a 1.78 ERA with 47 strikeouts. In his first Atlantic 10 start last Saturday, he pitched 6 innings, allowed 1 run on 3 hits and struck out 13.
Keep winning series, Spiders!