Too excited for opening day not to start bright and early. We don't know much of anything new yet about what we might see for UK regarding lineup and rotation, but I think we largely know the likely scenarios. The one thing we know for sure is that Cole Stupp will toe the rubber for UK this afternoon.
UK will face Reid Fagerstrom tonight. This is a huge surprise. Fagerstrom is a 6'1 sophomore righty. He appeared in just 5 games out of the bullpen a year ago where he pitched for just 4 innings carried a 22.50 ERA and gave up 11 runs on 7 hits with 6 walks and 3 strikeouts. I don't know what kind of major strides he made from last year, but to go from 4 innings pitched to Friday starter is a huge jump. UK hitters should have a field day and take advantage of his inexperience.
The whole weekend starting list is a surprise actually. The Gamecocks return 2 weekend starters and yet neither of them will be expected to start this weekend. Senior Colin Casey started 13 of 14 games he appeared in a year ago and had a 3.63 ERA. Not listed as a starter this weekend. Don't know if there was an injury or what. The other not listed as a start is junior Isaiah Magwood. Magwood is now listed as a two-way player who will pitch and play outfield. Last year he appeared in 16 games on the mound and started 11 and carried a 5.03 ERA over 48 innings of work. Opponents hit just .250 against him.
So, rather than those two JSU is reporting that tomorrow we'll see freshman 6 foot righty Tanner Jones. Then on Sunday we'll see 6 foot sophomore righty Camden Lovrich. Lovrich had 22 appearances a year ago and 2 starts. He pitched 36 innings and carried a 4.50 ERA and opponents hit .275 against him.
At the plate UK will need to be careful with catcher Alex Carignan. He hit .374 a year ago to lead all Gamecock hitters. He isn't a huge power guy with just 3 home runs, but he works the count and gets on base and gets base hits a whole lot. He will be a big spark to their offense. Outfielder Carson Crowe will also be a big spark to their offense, he hit .299 a year ago with 7 home runs and 16 doubles. 2B Cole Fredrick and 1B Alex Strachan both bring some power with 6 home runs each a year ago with Cole hitting .286 and Strachan hitting .254. They also return a solid defensive shortstop, but he didn't prove to be a great stick.
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I look for this to be a series that UK should sweep, but this isn't a bad team by any means. They went to a regional final in 2019, so they know how to play high level baseball and win. They struggled some last year going 26-27 while hitting .281 as a team and having a team ERA of 4.30. We will see how they do bouncing back from a poor year, but again, it should be a series that UK wins and that they should probably take a 3-0 record away from.
UK will face Reid Fagerstrom tonight. This is a huge surprise. Fagerstrom is a 6'1 sophomore righty. He appeared in just 5 games out of the bullpen a year ago where he pitched for just 4 innings carried a 22.50 ERA and gave up 11 runs on 7 hits with 6 walks and 3 strikeouts. I don't know what kind of major strides he made from last year, but to go from 4 innings pitched to Friday starter is a huge jump. UK hitters should have a field day and take advantage of his inexperience.
The whole weekend starting list is a surprise actually. The Gamecocks return 2 weekend starters and yet neither of them will be expected to start this weekend. Senior Colin Casey started 13 of 14 games he appeared in a year ago and had a 3.63 ERA. Not listed as a starter this weekend. Don't know if there was an injury or what. The other not listed as a start is junior Isaiah Magwood. Magwood is now listed as a two-way player who will pitch and play outfield. Last year he appeared in 16 games on the mound and started 11 and carried a 5.03 ERA over 48 innings of work. Opponents hit just .250 against him.
So, rather than those two JSU is reporting that tomorrow we'll see freshman 6 foot righty Tanner Jones. Then on Sunday we'll see 6 foot sophomore righty Camden Lovrich. Lovrich had 22 appearances a year ago and 2 starts. He pitched 36 innings and carried a 4.50 ERA and opponents hit .275 against him.
At the plate UK will need to be careful with catcher Alex Carignan. He hit .374 a year ago to lead all Gamecock hitters. He isn't a huge power guy with just 3 home runs, but he works the count and gets on base and gets base hits a whole lot. He will be a big spark to their offense. Outfielder Carson Crowe will also be a big spark to their offense, he hit .299 a year ago with 7 home runs and 16 doubles. 2B Cole Fredrick and 1B Alex Strachan both bring some power with 6 home runs each a year ago with Cole hitting .286 and Strachan hitting .254. They also return a solid defensive shortstop, but he didn't prove to be a great stick.
JSU Baseball Begins 2022 Campaign Against Kentucky - Jacksonville State University Athletics
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State baseball team will usher in the 2022 season this weekend against Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky in a three-game series
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I look for this to be a series that UK should sweep, but this isn't a bad team by any means. They went to a regional final in 2019, so they know how to play high level baseball and win. They struggled some last year going 26-27 while hitting .281 as a team and having a team ERA of 4.30. We will see how they do bouncing back from a poor year, but again, it should be a series that UK wins and that they should probably take a 3-0 record away from.
