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Rockhurst University Athletics

Connor Ellefson swings bat

Baseball

Baseball opens 2022 season in Nashville

Senior Connor Ellefson returns as the starting DH.
The Rockhurst baseball team opens the 2022 season this weekend in Nashville, Tennessee with a lot of room for optimism. The Hawks ended last season on a high note, winning seven of their last nine games.

The combination of quality returnees and a solid cast of newcomers will be team strengths, according to head coach Gary Burns.

"Defense and team speed are a couple of areas that should make us more competitive," said Burns, who is beginning his 29th season at Rockhurst.
 
The Hawks return experienced hitters in senior outfielder Tommy Kraus and senior designated hitter Connor Ellefson. Kraus and Ellefson are both career .300 hitters who have combined for nine home runs and 114 RBIs. Junior outfielder Cameron Gardner came on strong at the end of last year as the starting center fielder.

Seniors Ethan Kleinheider and Devon Farrell are back after seeing a lot of action in the infield last year. Sophomore Hoyt Bennett will be the starting catcher after backing up Nic Mertes last year.
 
The top returning pitcher is junior Clayton Medlin, who held opponents to a .238 batting average in 31.2 innings in 2021. Joining Medlin in the rotation will be freshmen Michael Laudando and Ethan Kulpinski. Seniors Thomas Jones, CJ July and Michael Hellman will carry the bullpen load.

The Hawks will play 32 conference games this year with eight four-game series, culminating with a weekend series at home against Southwest Baptist May 6-8.
 
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Players Mentioned

Nic Mertes

#31 Nic Mertes

C
5' 10"
Senior
L/R
Hoyt Bennett

#22 Hoyt Bennett

C
6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
Connor Ellefson

#5 Connor Ellefson

1B
6' 0"
Graduate Student
R/R
Devon Farrell

#28 Devon Farrell

IF
5' 10"
Senior
R/R
Cameron Gardner

#3 Cameron Gardner

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Thomas Jones

#38 Thomas Jones

P
6' 3"
Senior
R/R
CJ July

#4 CJ July

P
6' 0"
Senior
R/R
Ethan Kleinheider

#6 Ethan Kleinheider

IF
5' 9"
Graduate Student
R/R
Tommy Kraus

#9 Tommy Kraus

P
5' 8"
Graduate Student
L/L
Clayton Medlin

#17 Clayton Medlin

P
6' 3"
Junior
R/R
Ethan Kulpinski

#35 Ethan Kulpinski

P
6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
Michael Laudando

#21 Michael Laudando

IF / P
6' 2"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Nic Mertes

#31 Nic Mertes

5' 10"
Senior
L/R
C
Hoyt Bennett

#22 Hoyt Bennett

6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
C
Connor Ellefson

#5 Connor Ellefson

6' 0"
Graduate Student
R/R
1B
Devon Farrell

#28 Devon Farrell

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
IF
Cameron Gardner

#3 Cameron Gardner

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF
Thomas Jones

#38 Thomas Jones

6' 3"
Senior
R/R
P
CJ July

#4 CJ July

6' 0"
Senior
R/R
P
Ethan Kleinheider

#6 Ethan Kleinheider

5' 9"
Graduate Student
R/R
IF
Tommy Kraus

#9 Tommy Kraus

5' 8"
Graduate Student
L/L
P
Clayton Medlin

#17 Clayton Medlin

6' 3"
Junior
R/R
P
Ethan Kulpinski

#35 Ethan Kulpinski

6' 4"
Freshman
R/R
P
Michael Laudando

#21 Michael Laudando

6' 2"
Freshman
R/R
IF / P