Spring Season Underway for Knights.

February 19, 2011

NCAA DI Baseball Opens with Big Crowds at Hawaii, South Carolina and Ole Miss

The 2011 NCAA DI spring season got underway with a bang for many Knights and Knight alums as the road to Omaha started last night in stadiums from Honolulu, Hawaii to Columbia, South Carolina.

Ex-Knights' sophomore infielder Justin Viele (pictured) went 3-for-4 in Santa Clara's season-opening 12-5 loss at Carolina Stadium vs. the defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks before a sold-out crowd of 8,242.

Knights' sophomore pitcher Chris Mendoza of Santa Clara is expected to get a start this weekend vs. the #7 ranked Gamecocks.

Before an opening night sell-out crowd of 4,396 at Les Murakami Stadium, Knights' outfielder Michael Blake made his DI debut with Hawaii an exciting one, scoring the winning run in the Bows' 4-3 victory over University of Oregon. The junior from Vancouver, Washington went 1-for-3 and hit fifth for UH.

Future Knights' frosh outfielder Connor Hofmann of the Ducks went 2-for-4 in his collegiate debut at Hawaii.

Junior catcher Corey Davis of Wright State made his DI and Raiders debut in Oxford, Mississippi before a Friday afternoon Ole Miss crowd of 8,386. Davis, who is returning to Corvallis this summer, hit fourth and went 1-for-4. The Rebels of the SEC beat Wright State 15-6 in the opener of a three-game series.

Ex-Knights' first baseman Taylor Ard made his DI and Washington State debut yesterday at Cal-State Bakersfield. The junior slugger from Brush Prarie, Washington hit fourth and went 1-for-4 with a double in the Cougars' 4-2 win.

Former Knights' infielder Thomas McCarthy of Kentucky made his DI debut as the Wildcats' starting third baseman. Kentucky lost its opener 11-6 at College of Charleston.

Knights' outfielder David Andriese made his collegiate debut hitting seventh for the Highlanders as UCR's designated hitter. The redshirt frosh went 1-for-3 in an opening day 4-1 loss at LMU. David's brother Matt, an ex-Knight, started for UC Riverside, pitched seven stellar innings, allowed no earned runs and did not earn a decision.