Bridgeport, W.Va. – The Mountain East Conference released their Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll on Friday afternoon, with the West Liberty University baseball team picked to finish third in the north division, accumulating 33 points and a pair of first place votes in the poll. With a wealth of experience returning from a team that gained considerable momentum late last season, the Black & Gold look to make some noise in the MEC in 2024. The Hilltoppers ended 2023 with an 11-6 record in their final 17 regular season games entering the conference tournament where they notched an upset of No. 24 Charleston in the opening round.

RETURNERS

West Liberty returns seven of their eight starting position players from a year ago, including each of their top three batters who hit above .300 in 2023. James Salvatori recorded a team-high .333 batting average last season with 14 multi-hit games in 46 appearances. Jacob Sherman, who was an Honorable Mention All-MEC selection, tied for the most doubles among MEC players with 20 and notched a total of 55 hits, the most by a WLU returner. Rounding out the group is the reigning MEC Freshman of the Year, Will Balgo, who was also recently named Preseason Honorable Mention All-Atlantic Region by the NCBWA. With the highest slugging percentage (.533) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.924) among returners, Balgo tallied 39 hits, seven doubles, and six home runs in 2023. He ended the year with a hit in 22 of the last 25 games he appeared in, which included ten multi-hit games in his last 16 contests.

On the mound Drake Dobson and Ethan Conley are the top two returning starters for WLU. Dobson posted a 4-5 record along with one save in 14 total appearances and ten starts in 2023. He held opponents to a .221 batting average while recording a 1.76 WHIP, a 6.02 ERA in 52.1 innings pitched and striking out 43 batters. Conley returns with a 4-3 record in 13 total appearances and eight starts a year ago. He held opponents to a .293 batting average while recording a 1.78 WHIP, a 6.04 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched, and striking out 23 batters.

The Hilltoppers will also return five key relief pitchers from last season’s rotation on the mound. Highlighting the group is utility player Trevor Thomas who also was an infielder. In 13 appearances on the mound, he threw 18.2 innings of work and posted a record of 1-3 and secured an MEC leading six saves. He posted a WHIP of 1.39 and an ERA of 3.37 while limiting opponents to a .217 batting average and striking out nine batters. Ryan Clark also returns after posting a 2-1 record in 11 appearances and 22.0 innings pitched. He struck out 14 batters while posting a WHIP of 1.91 and an ERA of 4.50 and limiting opponents to a .225 batting average.

NEWCOMERS

Head coach Eric Burkle brings in a group of six freshmen and six transfers for the 2024 season with considerable talent in each group.

Highlighting the group of transfers is Josh Wolfe, an infielder who transferred from NCAA Division I Charleston Southern. Still only a freshman after spending only one semester with the Buccaneers, he will add depth and talent to an infield where all the primary starters return.  Joining him as a transfer will be a familiar face from within the MEC as Kobe Hill transfers to the hilltop from Wheeling. A year ago for the Cardinals the outfielder hit .250 with an on-base percentage of .664 and a slugging percentage .304. One final name to keep a name on will be Jacob Watson, who wrote his name into the Franciscan record books as a pitcher, holding career records for ERA (4.06), strikeouts (140), and wins (11). He also batted .356 a year ago with an on-base percentage of .826 and a slugging percentage of .414.

Other notable incoming freshmen who look to make an impact early on in their careers are right handed pitchers Colby Conn and Mason Bille who hail from the Buckeye State.

NOTABLE GAMES

The Hilltoppers will play a total of 18 games against teams who are ranked or receiving votes for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Regional preseason rankings in 2024. Highlighting that slate will be Seton Hill, who is preseason No. 16 in the country, and visits the hilltop for a single game on April 16. The Griffins, who are the No. 2 team in the region, will be joined by No. 6 Charleston, No. 7 Frostburg State, No. 8 Concord, and No. 10 West Virginia State as regionally ranked opponents while Pitt-Johnstown, California (Pa.), and Indiana (Pa.) are each receiving votes. Of the 18 games against these schools, 13 are scheduled to be played at Kovalick Field in West Liberty.

• Neutral site 4-game series vs. Pitt-Johnstown on March 2-3 in Beckley W.Va.
• Home doubleheader against West Virginia State on March 16
• Home doubleheader against Charleston on March 17
• Home doubleheader against California (Pa.) on March 20
• Home doubleheader against Concord on March 30
• Single game at Indiana (Pa.) on April 2
• 4-game series at Frostburg State on April 6-7
• Home single game against No. 16 Seton Hill on April 16