WKU Baseball Preview: Part 3 of 4

Photo Courtesy of WKU Athletics

We can do this everyone. A week from tomorrow, and the baseball season is here.

So far we have given you a look at the Toppers infield and outfield for the upcoming season, and today we will take a look at arguably the most potent and best part of the squad – the pitch staff.

Skipper Matt Myers came to WKU to be the pitching coach back in 2007, and quickly rose the ladder to associate head coach in 2009, before being named head man prior to the 2011 season. Since Myers has been on the Hill, WKU has a staff ERA of 4.77, a sub-5.00 ERA in each of the past four seasons, and three of those seasons saw an ERA that was below 4.50.

The lone downside to this years staff is a big one – experience. As it stands now, only two players have more than 3 career starts, but we will touch on that when we talk about our key returners. And while the experience isn’t there, the depth certainly is, and it’ll be the greatest advantage the Tops have this year.

Key Players Lost:
Arguably the biggest hit the Hilltoppers took as an entire squad was the departure of RHP Andrew Edwards, who is now in the Kansas City Royals system, and already has made quite a name for himself. In 2013, Edwards threw in 15 games (14 of those being starts), giong 80.2 innings with a ERA of 4.69, allowing 81 hits, striking out 75 and walked 38. While the ERA is a little high, and Edwards wasn’t as dominant in the win/loss column (going 6-4 of the 15 games he pitched in last year), Edwards is a powerful arm that will be sorely missed for the upcoming season. Opponents only hit .259 against him, which was the second lowest amongst pitchers with at least 5 appearances, and was the best amongst the Toppers starters. Also gone are Tim Bado and Tanner Perkins, who each threw 63 innings (Perkins exactly on the mark, and Bado threw 1/3 of an inning more), but had trouble recording outs, as each pitcher finished last sesaon with an ERA over 5.50, and opponents were batting over .320 agaist them. The Tops will have to make up for the 105 lost strikeouts amongst the two (nearly 200 strikeouts are gone when you factor in Edwards no longer with the team as well), but, as we will see in just a moment, the depth of this year’s squad should make up for that. The Tops will also need to find a new closer, as Taylor Haydel is no longer on the Hill, either. Haydel went 1-2 in 28 innings (26 apperances), and finished his final season with an ERA of 3.21, strikingout 21 and walking 10.

Key Players Returning:
The two veterans on this pitching staff are Justin Hageman and Austin Clay.
Hageman will look to improve upon a season in which he struggled with injury and control, but was able to throw 43.0 innings in 15 apperances (6 starts), finishing the year with a 2-2 record and a 5.02 ERA. Hageman will also need to work on his BB/K ratio, as last season saw him punchout only 35 guys compared to the 27 he gave a free pass to. Entering his fourth and final season on the Hill, Hageman brings 33 starts and 175 total strikeouts, and will be looked to by the new guys as the source of leadership on this young staff.
Clay appeared in 24 games, all but 6 of them coming out of the bullpen, and finished the year just below .500 (3-4), to accompany an ERA of 4.28. Clay is dominat when he is on the bump, as he struck 56 men out last year and only allowed 18 to reach base willingly. If these two guys can stay healthy (and for Hageman, find some consistency on the mound), the Tops are looking solid in their first and second starters. Hageman is going to want to make some noise in his final season, and Clay is going to fight for the top spot in the rotation.

Who Else Is Back?
The Hilltoppers will return 9 pitchers, including the two mentioned above. Tate Glasscock will be looking to rebound strongly following an injury last year. The hometown kid Josh Bartley (from South Warren High School, about 15 minutes away from campus) made 19 apperances and recorded victories over in-state foes Kentucky and Louisville, and will look to make a larger contribution this season. Ian Tompkins will look to overtake Haydel’s spot as the team’s closer. Tompkins lead WKU in ERA last year, posting a 2.29, while striking out 59 batters in the process in 35.1 innings. Alex Mercer, Brennan Pearson, Jackson Sowell and Jake Thompson will also be back.

Who’s New?
The Hilltoppers will see 5 newbies to the pitching staff, including four freshman and a transefer from Wabash Valley. Brandon Allen, the aformentioned transfer, finished 2013 with 6 wins and posted an ERA of 3.41 in 60.2 innings in his final season with Wabash Valley. RHP Sam Higgs looks to continue some impressive pitching while here on the Hill, as he struck out 76 batters compared to only six walks as a senior at Henderson County High School, along with throwing 72.0 innings. Cody Coll, Sam Melchior and Ryan Thurston round out the pitching staff for 2014.

Final Verdict?
It’s deep, that’s for sure. Pitching has rarely, if ever, been a problem with Coach Myers at Western, and that trend looks like it’ll continue here. A lot of returners will provide a great foundation for the young and new guys coming in. Things may be rocky in the beginning, but that’ll be due to nothing more than innexperience (at least at the college level). The one concern I have is will arm fatigue rear it’s ugly head, and in the ugliest of ways, down the stretch with WKU vying for a spot in the Sun Belt tournament. If guys are used smartly and correctly, and don’t find themsleves throwing 80 pitches in 4 innings, this should, once again, be the strongest position on the field for WKU.