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Clarkson University Athletics

2019 Clarkson Baseball Preview

By: March 7, 2019
PearsonBrad2018vsSLU
Connor Koehler
Senior Brad Pearson was a Liberty League Second-Team All-Star in 2018

Men's Baseball | 3/7/2019 12:19:00 PM

A fixture in the Liberty League post-season with two title and seven championship round appearances, the Clarkson University Baseball team found itself in an odd position last year: missing the conference tournament for just the fourth time in 16 years. It is a position that the Golden Knights don't expect to be in again this May, as the Knights being to prepare for the conference slate and the rest of the 2019 season when the Green and Gold open the campaign at Hamilton College this weekend.

2019 Roster

2019 Schedule

2018 Statistics

Last Year: The Golden Knights finished 16-16 overall and 11-11 in Liberty League play, only a rainout from qualifying for the conference tournament once again, ending a four-year streak of playoff appearances. Clarkson's biggest losses come from the rotation, as the Golden Knights will be without Liberty League Co-Pitcher of the Year Will Coleman and Liberty League Second-Team All-Star Andrew Smith. Coleman missed nearly all of his junior season due to injury but was a true ace despite a 2-4 record, completing all six of his starts with a 1.52 earned run average, 59 strikeouts and just seven walks allowed while giving up just a .227/.273/.308 slash line in 47.1 innings. Smith tossed 44.2 innings, ranking fifth in the league in earned run average at 2.62 while ranking 14th in the country in walks per nine, giving up just four free passes overall.

Key Returners: It won't be easy to replace the one-two punch of Coleman and Smith, but Clarkson still has plenty in the rotation and a strong stable of arms. Senior Ryan Riley struck out 35 hitters in 39 innings, recording a 3.06 earned run average up north after struggling a little in Florida. Junior Mark Connor was the team's top bullpen arm for the past two years, making 21 relief appearances. Last season he struck out a hitter per inning and owned a 1.27 WHIP with two wins and three saves. In the everyday lineup, Clarkson welcomes back two-time conference all-star Brad Pearson, a senior who led the team in batting (.333), hits (39), runs (21), runs batted in (21) and total bases (50). Two-way player Nate Burns, a junior, will also be counted on in the rotation this year as much as he was at the plate last year when he hit .319/.347/.434. Senior Vincent Granuzzo enjoyed a breakout season at the dish in 2018, leading the team in hitting with an .881 OPS thanks to team bests in both on-base percentage (.410) and slugging percentage (.471). Sophomore Michael Tito played little in Florida, but was a fixture in the lineup down the stretch, playing the final 18 league contests of the year with a .300 batting average overall. Junior shortstop Joe Stockman and senior catcher Mike Krick also add depth and experience to the lineup.

Newcomers: Sixteen new players dot the lineup card for Jim Kane and plenty have shown early promise. Sophomore Tommy Bianchi transferred after one season in the SUNYAC and will be one of the team's outfielders, with freshmen Kyle Locklear, who will also see plenty of time on the mound, and Caleb Doyle pushing for starts in the grass. First-year collegian Mike Nee will spell Krick behind the plate as another capable defensive backstop. Besides Locklear, the Knights have four additional first-year righthanders that could vie for innings as well.





 
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Players Mentioned

Will Coleman

#8 Will Coleman

RHP/UT
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Andrew Smith

#2 Andrew Smith

RHP
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Nate Burns

#1 Nate Burns

OF/RHP
5' 9"
Junior
R/R
Mark Connor

#20 Mark Connor

RHP
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Vincent Granuzzo

#29 Vincent Granuzzo

LHP/IF
6' 1"
Senior
R/L
Mike Krick

#32 Mike Krick

C
6' 4"
Senior
R/R
Brad Pearson

#25 Brad Pearson

C
5' 11"
Senior
L/R
Ryan Riley

#34 Ryan Riley

RHP
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Joe Stockman

#10 Joe Stockman

IF
6' 2"
Junior
R/R
Michael Tito

#2 Michael Tito

IF
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Will Coleman

#8 Will Coleman

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
RHP/UT
Andrew Smith

#2 Andrew Smith

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Nate Burns

#1 Nate Burns

5' 9"
Junior
R/R
OF/RHP
Mark Connor

#20 Mark Connor

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Vincent Granuzzo

#29 Vincent Granuzzo

6' 1"
Senior
R/L
LHP/IF
Mike Krick

#32 Mike Krick

6' 4"
Senior
R/R
C
Brad Pearson

#25 Brad Pearson

5' 11"
Senior
L/R
C
Ryan Riley

#34 Ryan Riley

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
RHP
Joe Stockman

#10 Joe Stockman

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
IF
Michael Tito

#2 Michael Tito

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
IF