April 14, 2021

BMOC Week 11

By Matt Betts

Canadian Baseball Network

It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means. From California to Maine and everywhere in between, Canadians continue to perform at high levels for their colleges and universities. Let’s take a look at who put on a show last week.

Gauthier bags eighth win as Buffs down Rams, named Pitcher of the Week

A pair of Texas Division II juggernauts collided over the weekend as Mathieu Gauthier (Candiac, Que.) and the No. 5 West Texas A&M Buffs welcomed No. 10 Angelo State to Canyon, Tex. Gauthier got the ball in the opener and delivered eight innings in a convincing 9-1 win.He allowed an unearned run on four hits and two walks.The former Junior National Team member struck out seven and is now 8-2 on the campaign.His eight wins are good for a tie of first in all of Division II baseball.For the second time this season he was named the Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Week.

Bourassa beats Santa Clara

Landen Bourassa (Lethbridge, Alta.) inched his record above .500 by tossing seven innings for the University of San Francisco on Friday afternoon. Bourassa gave up just two hits, an unearned run and a pair of walks to lead the Dons to a 4-1 win over Santa Clara. He struck out four to improve to 3-2.

Bedard, Dos Santos drive the Bulldogs offence

If you’re wondering who powers the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs, look no further than Alex Bedard (Levis, Que.) and Ryan Dos Santos (Mississauga, Ont.).

In the Bulldogs four games, Bedard delivered eight hits, two of which were home runs to go along with two walks, eight RBIs, three stolen bases and a hit by pitch. He launched a grand slam in an 11-8 Game 4 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Dos Santos concluded the four games with six hits, two walks, two RBIs and two stolen bases.

Turcotte turns in complete game

Sam Turcotte (Toronto, Ont.) threw a complete game as the Stony Brook Seawolves downs UMass Lowell 6-2 in Game 1 of their America East Conference series. Turcotte relinquished two runs on five hits in the game. He struck out five along the way.

Mineral Area mashers

Both Connor Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) and Ben Jones (Toronto, Ont.) were at the forefront of the Mineral Area offense as the Cardinals took 4-of-5.

Hicks swatted three home runs and 13 hits in total. He drove in ten and also legged out three doubles. In a high scoring 20-14 win in Game 4 of their series with State Fair, he went 4-for-6 with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs.

Jones, looking to keep up offensively with his Canadian counterpart, collected eight hits, walked six times, drove in three and swiped three bases. His best game also came in the 20-14 win over State Fair, as he went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and a stolen base.

Niagara goes 4-2

It was another good week for the Niagara Purple Eagles as they collected four wins in six games, including a forfeit victory in Game 4 of their four-game set with St. Peter’s. Canadians had a lot to do with the teams overall success.

Zach Cameron (Hamilton, Ont.) won two games on the mound. Cameron threw five scoreless innings of relief in a 4-3 midweek win over rival Canisius. He limited the Golden Griffins to two hits and a walk. Of the 15 outs he recorded, he struck out six of them. The Fieldhouse Pirates grad saw action again in Game 3 of their series with St. Peter’s. In that outing he tossed three scoreless innings and gave up two hits. He punched out three Peacocks to finish with nine in eight innings.

Ben Erwin (Spruce Grove, Alta.) started Game 2 of the Purple Eagles weekend series with St. Peter’s and allowed one run over five innings in a 12-1 win. Erwin limited the Peacocks to three hits and a pair of walks. Eight strikeouts helped enhance his record to 2-1.

Spencer Marcus (Chatham, Ont.) played a role by going 4-for-9 with a RBI.

Joe Tevlin (Toronto, Ont.) backed the offence with five hits, a walk and a RBI.

Tweet continues to hit

Dawson Tweet (Russell, Man.) produced at a high level for the second week in a row for Mesabi Range. Out of the leadoff spot, Tweet chipped in eight hits, three walks, five RBIs and three stolen bases. Through 17 games, he is hitting .407 with 11 stolen bases.

Fascia causes fits for opposing pitchers

Purdue’s Zac Fascia (Brampton, Ont.) contributed four hits, a walk and a RBI for the Boilermakers in three games. They lost the opener to Penn State, rebounded to beat the Nittany Lions and then dropped a contest to Michigan State.

Wilde wins his fourth

Evan Wilde (Airdrie, Alta.) spun a complete game, seven innings and gave up one run on three hits as Cloud County downed Kansas City Kansas Community College 5-1. Wilde walked one and punched out 13 to move his record to 4-1.

Gagnon gives good effort for Gannon Golden Knights

It’s not very often a team will play two, four-game series in a single week, but that’s what Gannon University was staring down as they began play on April 5. In seven games played, Keiran Gagnon (Mono, Ont.) had nine hits, three walks, three RBIs, seven stolen bases and was hit by a pitch. Gagnon had a pair of multi-hit games to open Gannon’s series with Clarion, both Golden Knights wins.

Illinois State’s Lussier shuts down Sycamores

Jordan Lussier (Winnipeg, Man.) threw seven scoreless innings to pick up the victory in a 5-0 win over the No. 25 Indiana State Sycamores. Lussier scattered six hits and a walk in the only win of the four-game series for the Redbirds. He also struck out five and is now 4-1 on the season.

Gore gives Madonna more than enough to win

Madonna University put up a strong offensive showing to beating Aquinas. In the 10-4 win, Daniel Gore (Tecumseh, Ont.) worked five innings and gave up a pair of runs on two hits. Gore walked one and struck out seven to secure the win, his second of the season.

Savard goes 4-for-7

Parker Savard (Hanmer, Ont.) made his way into the St. Cloud State lineup for Games 2 and 3 in their series against Sioux Falls. Savard went 2-for-4 in a 9-1 win in the second game of the series before going 2-for-3 with a RBI in a 5-3 win to wrap up the series.

Carinci logs solid series against No. 3 Longhorns

It was a tough weekend for the Kansas State Wildcats as they were swept in a three-game series with the No. 3 Texas Longhorns. One bright spot for the Wildcats, however, was Daniel Carinci (Ajax, Ont.). Carinic legged out a triple and drove in two runs in a 13-6 loss in Game 1. In Game 2, he had a hit as the Wildcats were thumped 15-1. To close out the series he went 2-for-3 in a 9-2 loss.

Magill triggers the offence for Tribunes

Evan Magill (Ajax, Ont.) left the yard three times in six games for the Monroe Community College Tribunes. Magill finished the week with eight hits, seven walks and 10 RBIs. His first home run came in a 4-0 win over Genesee in the first game of their four-gamer. In the finale, a 17-10 win, he went 4-for-4 with two doubles, two more home runs, a walk and six RBIs. The Tribunes were a perfect 6-0.

Bahnuk busy out of the bullpen

When Southwestern Christian University manager Joe Blackwell picked up the bullpen phone, I think he had Jordan Bahnuk (Woodstock, Ont.) on speed dial. Bahnuk made three appearances for the Eagles. The first came in an 8-4 win over Randall when he pitched a pair of scoreless innings with three strike outs. The phone rang again for the Canadian in Game 1 against Wayland Baptist. The righty threw an inning, giving up a run on a hit with a strike out to pick up the save in a 6-4 win. He made one last appearance in Game 3 of the series. The junior gave up a hit in a scoreless inning of work in an 11-10, 10-inning win.

Buckle belts two-run shot

Declan Buckle (Cornerbrook, Nfld.) went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBIs in an 11-9 Minot State win in Game 2 of their series with Minnesota State. Out of the leadoff spot, Buckle collected eight hits, two walks and six RBIs in five games on the week.

Humeniuk bookends week with three hits

The week started well and ended well for Louisiana Monroe’s Ryan Humeniuk (Stonewall, Man.). Humeniuk went 3-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base as the Warhawks walked in Tuscaloosa and downed the Alabama Crimson Tide 5-3 in a midweek contest. Then in a 7-1 loss in Game 3 of their weekend series with Georgia Southern, he went 3-for-3 again. Unfortunately for the Warhawks, they were swept in the three-game set.

Bryerton beats Green River

Noah Bryerton (Surrey, BC) surrendered one run on three hits over five innings of work out of the bullpen to help guide Centralia to a 5-1 victory over Green River. Bryerton walked one and struck out four to earn the win.

Grieder goes five

When a pitcher gives up seven runs they don’t typically make it into the BMOC, but Andrew Grieder (Spruce Grove, Alta.) of the Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles found a way. That’s because all seven runs he was tagged with were unearned in his five innings of work. The lefty gave up five hits, issued three walks and struck out two to go along with the unearned runs as the Eagles hung on to beat York 14-8 in Game 1 of their series.

Achen looks like an ace

Cohen Achen (Calgary, Alta.) was spectacular for Lindsey Wilson in their 2-1 win over No. 25 Freed Hardeman. Achen conceded one run on three hits over seven stellar innings. He walked one and struck out eight in the win.

McWhirter goes deep three times

Of the eight hits Jacob McWhirter (Guelph, Ont) pounded out for State Fair, three of them were home runs. McWhirter homered in the first three games of the week in a pair of wins over Metropolitan Community College and a loss to Mineral Area. Throughout State Fair’s six games, the freshman also had three walks, 11 RBIs and a stolen base.

Five knocks McGarry-Doyle

Noel McGarry-Doyle (Vaughan, Ont.) amassed five hits, walked four times, drove in nine and stole a base as Southeastern Community College picked up four wins.

Plaz, Clarendon explode offensively

It was quite the offensive outburst from Victor Plaz (Montreal, Que.) and his Clarendon College teammates as they scored 98 runs in six games. Plaz put together a nine-hit week with two walks and 12 RBIs. Two of his hits were home runs. In a 23-11 win over Frank Phillips, he went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Surprisingly, Clarendon only went 4-2 despite the offensive output.

Espineli notches four hits

Kyle Espineli (Toronto, Ont.) played in two games last week for Notre Dame College and had four hits, a walk and three RBIs. Three of his hits came in Game 4 of the Falcons series with West Liberty.

Hare has a strong four games

It’s always nice to start the week with a home run, and that’s what Josh Hare (Simcoe, Ont.) did in Lourdes 13-9 win over Goshen. Hare went 2-for-4 with the two-run home run. He followed it up with a 3-for-4 game with a walk and a RBI in a 27-1 drubbing of Goshen in the second game of a midweek doubleheader. Next up was a double dip with Michigan-Dearborn where he had a walk, a hit and a stolen base in a 12-5, Game 1 win. Lourdes would drop the back half 5-2.

Dillon deals in relief

Kurt Dillon (Cornwall, Ont.) came on in the fourth inning of Galveston’s 6-3 win over Blinn and worked six innings of relief. Dillon gave up a run on two hits, with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Froehlich, McWillie earn wins for Colby

Of Colby College’s five wins last week, Canadians had two of them.

Kyle Froehlich (Nipawin, Sask.) picked up his first win of the season with six innings of work in a 21-3 Game 4 win over Pratt. Froehlich surrendered five hits and three runs (two earned) in the start. He walked a pair and struck out nine to secure the series win after the Trojans took two of the first three games.

Tyler McWillie (Waltrous, Sask.) got the ball in Game 2 and also lasted six innings. McWillie scattered seven hits, allowed one run, walked two and struck out seven. He also stroked three hits on the week, including a home run.

Marks strikes out six

Jordan Marks (Bright’s Grove, Ont.) struck out six over five innings, but the USC Upstat Spartans dropped Game 1 of their series with Gardner Webb by an 8-5 score. Marks allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with a pair of walks.

Reivers stay red hot

With six wins this past week, the No. 7 Iowa Western improved to 30-5. Noah Hull (Scarborough, Ont.) chipped in offensively and Evan O’Toole threw a complete game for the Reviers.

Hull had four hits, a walk and a RBI in two games. He was 3-for-3 with a walk and a RBI in a 14-4 blowout of Marshalltown.

O’Toole threw seven scoreless innings in his complete game win over Marshalltown. He yielded three hits, a pair of walks and struck out three.

Klepper wins his sixth

Colby Klepper (Stony Plain, Alta.) went six inning and gave up one run on four hits as Lamar downed Trinidad State 11-1 in Game 3 of their series. Klepper walked four and struck out five to move two games above .500 at 6-4.

Donnelly with a big game

In a high scoring 17-16 Tiffin win over Cedarville, Danny Donnelly (Okotoks, Alta.) produced a 4-for-5 game with five RBIs and two stolen bases for the victors.

Lower Columbia lucky to have Luchies

Eric Luchies (Victoria, BC) went 2-for-3 with a RBI in Lower Columbia’s first game of the week, a 5-4 win over Centralia. After a hit in a 3-0 win over Centralia, he stayed hot, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs in an 8-4 victory over Pierce.

Zapp solid in series loss to Western Michigan

After sweeping Eastern Michigan the week before, the Miami of Ohio RedHawks couldn’t emulate the same success on the other side of Michigan as they dropped three of four to the Western Michigan Broncos. Brian Zapp was 2-for-2 for the RedHawks in a 9-0 Game 1 loss. Zapp had a hit and a walk in a 4-3 loss in Game 2. After walking in a 3-2, Game 3 loss, he generated a hit, a walk and an RBI as the RedHawks salvaged a win in the series with a 16-9 victory in Game 4.

Hendrix College wins two, drops two

Zach Marriott (Oakville, Ont.) churned out five hits, three walks, four RBIs and was hit by two pitches as Hendrix College split a four-game set with Millsaps. Marriott really stood out in Game 1 with three hits, a pair of RBIs and a hit by pitch.

LaMontagne finishes 4-for-9

Deric LaMontagne had a pair of two-hit games, two walks and a RBI in Lamar’s four-gamer with Northwestern State. Lamar split the series, winning Games 2 and 3.

Chester throws complete game

It only took Salt Lake Community College five innings to dispose of Colorado Northwestern by a 20-1 score on April 8. Fynn Chester (Victoria, BC) pitched all five innings and surrendered the one run on three hits. He struck out seven in the shortened complete game.

Canadians steer offence for Marian

Matteo Porcellato (Pitt Meadows, BC) and Dion Wintjes (Vancouver, BC) were big time offensive performers in three games for Marian.

Porcellato had five hits, two walks, a RBI and a stolen base. He supplied a 3-for-3 effort with a stolen base in a 3-1 loss to St. Francis.

Wintjes hit three home runs and finished with five hits, two walks and eight RBIs. During a game against Thomas More, he was 3-for-5 at the dish with a three-run home run and a two-run home run. The very next game, he left the ballpark again, this time a solo shot. In that one, he went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

Cunningham throws five innings

Junior right-hander Hunter Cunningham (Mission, BC) blanked Southwestern Assemblies of God University over five innings to assist the LSU Shreveport Pilots with an 8-0 win. Cunningham allowed three hits, walked four and struck out two to net the win.

Massad masterful in win over Frostburg State

Aidan Massad (Leamington, Ont.) punched out 11 over seven innings as the Battler of Alderson Broaddus beat up on Frostburg State by a 17-1 margin. Massad gave up the one run on five hits and a walk.

Machibroda makes opposing pitchers pay

In a lopsided series where Lubbock Christian outscored Eastern New Mexico 48-8 in three games, Nolan Machibroda (Saskatoon, Sask.) provided his fair share of offence. Machibroda started his productive series with a hit, a walk and two RBIs in his team’s 8-0, Game 1 win. He then went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a hit by pitch in a 17-2 thumping in Game 2. To put a cap on the series he contributed a pair of hits and two RBIs in an 18-6 victory.

Savoie hits homer

Edouard Savoie (Sainte Eustache, Que.) closed the week for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M with three straight multi-hit games. Savoie had six hits total, including a home run in a 14-3 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan. He also walked once, drove in eight and was hit by a pitch.

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Another seven days have passed in the college baseball season and there was no lack of Canadian standouts. Many schools rely heavily on their players from north of the border and that’s not going to change the rest of the way. Make sure to check back here next week for more highlights.

Do you know someone deserving of a mention in the weekly BMOC column? Please email Matt Betts at mattbetts41@gmail.com. Please note our week runs Monday-Sunday.

Looking for even more coverage of Canadians in college baseball? Follow Matt Betts on Twitter at @Bettsy41.