DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern baseball opens the 2018 season on Thursday afternoon with a 1 p.m. matchup against Washburn at the Airhog Division II Tournament in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The Savage Storm follow Thursday's opener with a Feb. 2 matchup with Angelo State at 10 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. contest with Central Oklahoma on Saturday before closing out the tournament with a 1 p.m. first pitch against Emporia State on Sunday.
The Savage Storm are aiming to rebound from a 16-29-1 season last year that included a 13-18 GAC record and a sixth-place finish in the conference standings.
They will head into 2018 with five returning position starters from a season ago, and despite losing its top hitter, brings back the next four from last year.
Brett Akins leads that group and had a .293 average with seven doubles, three homers and 27 RBI, while
Travis Spinney was next in line with a .283 average eight doubles, a pair of triples, 15 RBI, 29 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.
Luke Thomas,
Jett Swigart, and
Cade Clay also return after starting 30 or more games.
SE brings back three pitchers who recorded a start a season ago, with
Brandon Wolski leading the returning staff after posting a 3-7 record with three saves and a 4.14 ERA in 58.2 innings pitched over two starts and 24 total appearances. He struck out 54 on the year.
Hayden Grimes returns after posting the most starts a year ago and finished with a 4-5 record with a 4.55 ERA.
The Storm will reload with one of its largest class of newcomers in recent memory as more than 20 players will join the SE family, including four freshmen and three sophomores.
WU comes into the season after a 21-28 record a season ago, while UCO, ESU and ASU enter the season ranked nationally at Nos. 28, 29 and 30, respectively.
