Baseball Set for Key Matchup at Anderson

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology hits the road for Anderson University and a key Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball showdown today at 4:15 p.m.

The Fightin' Engineers stand 15-7 in HCAC play this season and have a one-half game lead over Anderson in the race for first place in the conference standings. Rose-Hulman stands 22-12 overall and 15-7 in league play after eight straight wins, while Anderson has a 24-11 record and a 15-8 conference mark after four consecutive victories.

Junior Donnie Waters was named the HCAC Offensive Player of the Week after hitting .737 last week and .909 in the series at Bluffton to improve his overall batting average to .372. Junior Caleb Kissel stands at .336 with seven doubles, one triple and one home run. Junior Hazen Hamather stands at .333 and the roster includes six players currently batting over .300.

Rose-Hulman leads the HCAC in earned run average at 2.84 after last weekend's series at Bluffton. The weekend rotation has included Karson Nixon (4-1, 0.84), R.J. Carroll (5-1, 2.73) and Andrew Stull (3-5, 2.78). Joey Callahan has started six games with a 4-3 mark and a 3.49 earned run average. The bullpen has been led by junior Alec McNally (3-1, 0.52, 6 saves), senior Ben Menich (1-1, 3.60, 1 SV) and senior John Krasich (0-0, 7.71, 1 save).

Anderson has relied on a .321 batting average with 100 extra base hits and a pitching staff with a 4.00 earned run average to vault into contention for the HCAC title. Offensively, Zack Hufferd leads the team in batting at .381 with eight home runs. Cole Heberling stands at .366 with 10 doubles and three home runs, and Jake Craft has a .359 average with 14 doubles and five home runs.

On the mound, Ben Yoder stands 5-0 with a 2.74 earned run average to lead the starting rotation. Other starters have included Jake Eaton (4-1, 3.80), Cameron Dotson (3-2, 2.89), Brian Page (3-1, 5.18), Cody Brock (3-3, 5.59) ana Mark Garrett (2-0, 5.76). The bullpen has been led by Nicholas Nunez (2-2,3 SV, 3.24) and Lane Hanzel (1-2, 2.61, 1 SV).

After today's game, Rose-Hulman closes the home schedule with a non-conference matchup against DePauw University on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Joey Callahan: P/OF; 5' 11"; Freshman

#10 Hazen Hamather: 3B/C; 5' 10"; Junior

#3 Caleb Kissel: 2B; 5' 10"; Junior

#20 John Krasich: P/C; 5' 11"; Senior

#9 Alec McNally: P; 6' 0"; Junior

#15 Ben Menich: P; 6' 4"; Senior

#27 Karson Nixon: P; 6' 6"; Junior

#32 Andrew Stull: P; 6' 1"; Junior

#29 Donnie Waters: 3B/1B; 6' 1"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#4 Joey Callahan
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: P/OF

#10 Hazen Hamather
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 3B/C

#3 Caleb Kissel
: 5' 10"; Junior
: 2B

#20 John Krasich
: 5' 11"; Senior
: P/C

#9 Alec McNally
: 6' 0"; Junior
: P

#15 Ben Menich
: 6' 4"; Senior
: P

#27 Karson Nixon
: 6' 6"; Junior
: P

#32 Andrew Stull
: 6' 1"; Junior
: P

#29 Donnie Waters
: 6' 1"; Junior
: 3B/1B