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Rockhurst University Athletics

Baseball Dugout

Baseball

Offense expected to carry Hawks heading into opener

Rockhurst ended last season with two wins over Upper Iowa on March 11.
The Rockhurst baseball team is ready to return to action on Friday after being inactive for close to a full calendar year. The Hawks open the 2021 season against Upper Iowa in a four-game weekend series at RU's Loyola Park.

Rockhurst ended last season with two wins over Upper Iowa on March 11 to finish with a shortened season record of 10-7.

A strong offense will carry the Hawks after averaging nearly 6.5 runs per game last season. Rockhurst returns seven of its top eight hitters who combined for seven home runs and 83 RBIs in 17 games in 2020.
 
The middle of the lineup will be led by third baseman Nathan Mark and shortstop Garrett McNally. Mark is a career .300 hitter with eight home runs and 71 RBIs. McNally has batted .329 with six homers and 59 RBIs.
 
Rockhurst coach Gary Burns has added two transfers to his infield. Ty Herrenbruck will start at first base after transferring from Pittsburg State where he hit eight home runs and drove in 38 runs the past two years. Truman State transfer Ethan Kleinheider will bat leadoff and take over the second base duties.
 
Tommy Kraus and Tyler Stamer will man the outfield corner spots, while Jack Burns will start in center field. Kraus is a career .308 hitter and Stamer batted .368 last year. Seniors Connor Ellefson and Joe Specht will share time as the designated hitter and see action in the infield.

Nic Mertes returns for senior year behind the plate. He is a career .322 hitter with four homers and 58 RBIs. Freshman Hoyt Bennett will see plenty action as the backup catcher.
 
Senior left-hander Jack Eisenbarger will lead the pitching staff. Eisenbarger has won nine games and posted a 3.90 ERA with 189 strikeouts in 159.1 innings since 2017.

Joining Eisenbarger in the rotation will be juniors Michael Hellman and Thomas Jones. Senior Luke Lancaster will lead the bullpen.
 
The Hawks will play 36 conference games this year with nine four-game series, culminating with a weekend series at William Jewell May 7-9.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jack Burns

#7 Jack Burns

OF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Jack Eisenbarger

#43 Jack Eisenbarger

P
5' 10"
Senior
L/L
Connor Ellefson

#5 Connor Ellefson

1B
6' 0"
Junior
R/R
Michael Hellman

#11 Michael Hellman

P
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
Thomas Jones

#38 Thomas Jones

P
6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
Tommy Kraus

#9 Tommy Kraus

P
5' 8"
Junior
L/L
Nathan Mark

#14 Nathan Mark

3B
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Garrett McNally

#8 Garrett McNally

SS
5' 9"
Senior
R/R
Nic Mertes

#31 Nic Mertes

C
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
L/R
Joe Specht

#16 Joe Specht

IF
5' 11"
Senior
S/R
Tyler Stamer

#25 Tyler Stamer

1B/OF
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Luke Lancaster

#27 Luke Lancaster

P
6' 2"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Jack Burns

#7 Jack Burns

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
OF
Jack Eisenbarger

#43 Jack Eisenbarger

5' 10"
Senior
L/L
P
Connor Ellefson

#5 Connor Ellefson

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
1B
Michael Hellman

#11 Michael Hellman

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
R/R
P
Thomas Jones

#38 Thomas Jones

6' 3"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Tommy Kraus

#9 Tommy Kraus

5' 8"
Junior
L/L
P
Nathan Mark

#14 Nathan Mark

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
3B
Garrett McNally

#8 Garrett McNally

5' 9"
Senior
R/R
SS
Nic Mertes

#31 Nic Mertes

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
L/R
C
Joe Specht

#16 Joe Specht

5' 11"
Senior
S/R
IF
Tyler Stamer

#25 Tyler Stamer

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
1B/OF
Luke Lancaster

#27 Luke Lancaster

6' 2"
Junior
R/R
P