In the penultimate weekend of the season, Seattle U wraps up its road schedule with a four-game set against Western Athletic Conference-newcomer, Dixie State. The Redhawks head to St. George, Utah, looking to snap a season-long 10-game skid and keep their postseason hopes alive.
SERIES INFO
Friday, May 14 – 5 pm PT • Watch / Stats
Saturday, May 15 (G1) – 11 am PT • Watch / Stats
Saturday, May 15 (G2) – Approx. 4:30 pm PT • Watch / Stats
Sunday, May 16 – 11 am PT • Watch / Stats
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday – SU: Morgan White, RHP (1-3, 4.50 ERA, 44.0 IP) vs DSU: Dillion Holliday, RHP (3-2, 5.08 ERA, 33.2 IP)
Saturday (G1) – SU: Alex Jemal, RHP (2-7, 3.68 ERA, 58.2 IP) vs DSU: Jimmy Borzone. RHP (2-5, 6.63 ERA, 57.0 IP)
Saturday (G2) – SU: Peter Chronowski, LHP (2-3, 4.20 ERA, 45.0 IP) vs DSU: Brett Porthman, RHP (1-0, 5.46 ERA, 29.2 IP)
Sunday – TBA vs DSU: Ryan Hardman, RHP (1-6, 10.10 ERA, 43.2 IP)
LAST TIME OUT
The Redhawks fell in 16-8 slugfest last Wednesday against Washington State in Pullman, as the teams combined for 31 hits in the contest. Julian Kodama was a team-best 3-for-5 at the plate, while Drake Maningo (2-3) and Gavin Rork (2-5) also had multi-hit performances.
LAST TIME WE MET... DIXIE STATE
First-ever series against the Trailblazers.
WAC WEEKLY ACCOLADES
On April 19, following a stellar performance against Sacramento State, sophomore left-hander Peter Chronowski was named WAC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in his career.
POSTSEASON AHEAD
Seattle U entered the week with a 7-17 record in WAC play and in potential position for the fifth-seed in the conference tournament. The top six eligible teams will earn berths into the tournament. California Baptist, Dixie State and Tarleton are not eligible postseason competition due to their transition to Division I.
START ME UP
Julian Kodama has started 55-straight games, dating back to the start of the 2020 season, which is the team's longest active streak. During that stretch, the junior infielder has started 47 games at third base.
THREE UP, THREE DOWN
» The Redhawks held Sacramento State scoreless for26 consecutive innings during their Apr. 16-18 series. The scoreless streak is a program-best since its 2010 rebirth.
» Seattle U began the week with an 8-18 record while playing on the road, which includes a 3-9 mark against WAC opponents.
» The Redhawks began the week ranked fourth among the WAC in earned run average (4.60) and tied for fifth with 39 stolen bases.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
6 – Home runs by Justin Mazzone who leads the team in this category. He is also the team leader in doubles (10), RBI (24) and slugging percentage (.440).
15 –Stolen bases by WAC leader Gavin Rork.
189 – The NCAA RPI ranking as of May 4 for Seattle U, which fifth-highest among WAC schools.
598 – The number of baseball games Seattle U has played since the start of the 2010 season, when the program returned after a 20-plus year absence.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Due to COVID protocols, the Redhawks have postponed or canceled nine games this season, including their March 11-12 neutral dates with Washington State (postponed), the April 1-3 WAC series with Northern Colorado (canceled), and the most recently their three-game set (May 7-9) with Gonzaga.
IN THE CLASSROOM
With an emphasizes on developing the whole person Seattle U baseball has seen notable success in the classroom.
» The team posted a 3.231 GPA in Winter Quarter 2021.
» With a team GPA of 3.304, the Redhawks was named to the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award in 2020.
» The Redhawks had 15 players earn All-WAC Academic honors in 2020.
AWARD WATCH LIST
Fifth-year senior Austin Lively began the season listed among the nation's top hitters as he was included on the 2021 Bragan Slugger Watch List for second consecutive season. Senior Justin Mazzone was named to the Buster Posey Catcher of the Award Watch List for a second time in as many years. He was joined by Conrado Diaz from UTRGV and Utah Valley's Drew Sims in representing the WAC.
DIAMOND MASTERS
Head coach Donny Harrel brings back 26 players from 2020. Among the familiar faces are Seattle U Class of 2020 graduates Austin Lively and Chase Wells, who opted to use the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA. Also making the most of the extra season is transfer Lucas Ford, who comes over from Charleston Southern where he spent the 2019 and 2020 campaigns after a two-year stint at Edmonds CC. Academically, the trio are working towards Master's Degree with Lively and Wells part of the Sports Business Leadership program, while Ford is studying Social and Human Sciences.
THE MAN IN CHARGE
The 2021 campaign of Seattle U baseball is the 12th season for head coach Donny Harrel who was named the lead architect for the program's rebuild in June 2008. Since being announced, Harrel has become the program's longest-tenured coach and all-time leader is games coached (598). He also began the week as the WAC's longest actively tenured head coach and was second-overall in games coached, all since 2010.
#PROREDHAWKS
» Four former Seattle U pitchers made rosters for the 2021 MiLB Opening Day on Tuesday. The quartet included Janson Junk (Somerset Patriots-AA), Zach Wolf (Pensacola Blue Wahoos-AA), Jake Prizina (Delmarva Orioles-Low A) and Brandon Jenkins (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers-Low A).
» Former Redhawk pitchers Tarik Skubal (DET) and Eric Yardley (MIL) each made the 2021 Opening Day roster for their respective teams.
» In the Summer of 2020, six former Redhawks were active in professional baseball, with five who were affiliated with a Major League team.