Nick Morgan, Sports Editor
Baseball
The Eagles have already gotten their season off to a good start, having split their first two games against the University of St. Francis Feb. 2. They will look for a combination of returning players and newcomers to get over the hump and make some noise in the River States Conference (RSC) this season. AU finished last season with a record of 19-22-1 overall and 9-19 in RSC play.
Head coach Manny Cervantes has high hopes for this season as depth and a host of returners will help lift the some of the weight off his shoulders. The returning players will look to add offensive prowess and stinginess on defense. Catcher Joe Williams, outfielders Alejandro Jivanjee and Joey Stenger and infielders Paul Haupt, Josh Blancet and Colton Back will all be strong assets to have at the plate, as those players combined for 127 of the team’s 262 runs from a season ago.
On the mound returning for the Eagles are junior Will McDonald and senior Logan Reitter, who last season posted a 3.35 and 4.19 ERA respectively. Junior transfer student Austin Shaw will also look to contribute immediately to the Eagles’ rotation along with a number of freshmen who will get time out of the bullpen.
The Eagles baseball team will look to continue the season Feb. 9 at home in a doubleheader against Bethel College beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Tennis
The Eagles men’s tennis program will look to continue its dominance of the RSC this season, as the No. 21 ranked Eagles have won seven straight RSC regular season titles. Having not lost a regular season conference competition in nine years and boasting a strong roster led by junior All-American Josh Turnquest, expectations are high this season.
In its first match of the 2019 regular season, the men’s tennis team rolled over Thomas More College in non-conference action, claiming a decisive 8-1 victory. Choopat Suvimolstean, Julian Tellez, Aquille Trotman, Shane Mustor and Felipe Penuela all defeated their opponents in singles play. In doubles, the teams of Suvimolstean/Tellez, Trotman/Mustor and Hartkopf/Penuela all claimed victory on Feb. 2.
On the women’s side, the Lady Eagles are coming off an impressive 13-4 season and looking to make a fourth consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament. The three-time RSC champion Lady Eagles will look to some newcomers to help with their title defense, as well as seasoned veterans such as Alejandra Diaz and Kendall Jablonowski, who are the defending RSC doubles champions. Having lost RSC Player of the Year winner Caitlyn Conyers, the Lady Eagles will have some ground to cover, but there is a lot to be excited about for both of these squads this season.
Asbury women’s tennis team will open up play next Saturday, Feb. 16, against No. 17 University of Northwestern Ohio at 1:00 p.m. at Top Seed Tennis Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Softball
The Asbury softball team will look to improve on its 14-20 (4-14 RSC) record from a year ago behind two all-conference returners, pitcher Deana Philips and catcher Faith Day. Of the Eagles 18 rostered players, 12 of them are underclassmen, so there is a lot of room to grow in this program.
A year ago, junior Deana Philips pitched in 17 games, completing one shutout and posting a 3.29 ERA on her way to her first all-conference selection. On the offensive side, Philips led the team in hits, RBIs and batting average. Just behind her, sophomore Faith Day brings the bats as well, bringing in 32 runs, hitting one home run and boasting a .364 batting average last season.
Other key returners include infielder Kamry Wells, pitcher Paige Hill and outfielder Madison Moss, who, along with their defensive contributions, will look to help with the offensive load this year.
The Eagles were ranked No. 9 in the conference preseason coaches’ poll, so expect this team to play with a chip on its shoulder this season, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 16, at Alice Lloyd College in a non-conference double header.
Golf
As the Asbury men’s golf team begins the spring season, the team will look to challenge for the RSC title this season, backed by a strong roster that includes freshman Marcos Ezcurra, who finished in fifth place in the RSC Fall Preview Oct. 29-30; sophomore Gavin Smith; and senior Ben Campbell. The Eagles placed fourth overall in the RSC tournament, just edging out IU East by three strokes.
The men’s golf team will look to build off the fall performances moving forward. The team’s next competition will take place Feb. 11-12 in Brunswick, Georgia.
For the women’s team, the Eagles will look to continue their run of recent success, coming off of a second place finish in the RSC Fall Preview four months ago. Freshman Faith Wiley led the pack, finishing three shots off the lead, and placed third overall. Sophomore Hannah McCrabb finished just behind her, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
The Lady Eagles roster boasts a slew of underclassmen, so there is a lot to be excited about for this young team. The Lady Eagles will join the men at the Sea Island Invitational in Brunswick as they continue their season.
