Week 3 of the College Baseball season is in the books with a flurry of home run activity from former Rays players. Here are some highlights from the past week in College Baseball from Rays alums.
Kolton Schaller was an important contributor in the Flashes’ sweep — he homered twice and drove in 7 runs in one contest, and across the weekend also reached base via a hit and was hit by a pitch with an RBI in another game. Overall in that series he finished with multiple extra-base impacts, 8 total RBI and consistent offensive production that helped Kent State to a weekend sweep.
Jake Schaffner was a catalyst in the Tar Heels’ offense, going 7-for-18 (.389) with 3 doubles, a home run, 5 RBI, 5 runs scored, and two walks across six games as North Carolina continued its early-season success. He delivered key extra-base hits including a 2-run double vs. Richmond and an RBI single vs. East Carolina, showcasing both power and on-base consistency throughout the slate.
Joey Nerat was a steady contributor in Iowa’s lineup, finishing the stretch 2-for-8 with 1 RBI, 1 walk, and 1 run scored, including an RBI single vs. No. 19 Oregon State that drove in a run and helped trim the deficit in a close 4–3 contest. He also scored a run and advanced into scoring position during Iowa’s 13–0 win over Wartburg on Feb. 24, showcasing his ability to get on base and produce in big offensive outings.
Noah Wech made two appearances for Oklahoma State, throwing three innings of hitless ball while striking out six. Wech now has 12 strikeouts in 8.1 innings on the season.
Nate Novinska and Casey Wambach both went deep in Madison College’s Opening Weekend. The duo combined for six RBIs.
Aaron Jungers was effective out of the bullpen for Lindenwood, appearing in two games and pitching 4.0 scoreless relief innings, allowing **just 2 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks, and earning a win in the March 1 victory. His steady relief work helped stabilize the Lions’ pitching staff during their mid-week series, finishing the stretch with a 0.00 ERA, 3 K, and 2 H allowed in relief.
Gabe Roessler delivered a key power performance in Missouri State’s midweek game vs. Little Rock on Feb. 28, going 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBI, helping the Bears to a 6-4 victory. Across the weekend doubleheader sweep of Little Rock, he scored a run and recorded multiple hits, finishing the stretch with at least 3 hits, 1 HR, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored as part of Missouri State’s offense.
Dominic Kibler provided a key offensive performance in Milwaukee’s Feb. 27 game vs. Evansville, finishing with 4 RBI as part of an 18-hit Panther attack that led to a 12–9 victory, showcasing his run-producing bat early in the week. John Hadley contributed power as well, homering and driving in a run vs. Evansville on Feb. 28 and adding multiple hits around that weekend, ending the stretch with at least 1 HR, 2 RBI and consistent baserunner appearances in competitive games for the Panthers.
Cole Selvig anchored the Gophers’ rotation, finishing with 5.2 innings pitched, with nine strikeouts, including the win on Feb. 27 vs. Kansas. Davis Hamilton contributed from the lineup, going 8-for-34 (.235) with 3 RBI and 9 runs scored, while Adam Urban was effective out of the bullpen with 4.2 scoreless innings pitched, 7 strikeouts and just 4 hits allowed with a 0.00 ERA through the end of the weekend.
Miles Nelson went 2-for-4 in all three games for Trivecca Nazarene to raise his batting average on the season for .344.
Preston Yaucher provided key run production for Penn State, going 2-for-8 with 2 RBI — including a clutch RBI single vs. Indiana State that helped tie the game late and send it into extra innings — and also recorded a sacrifice hit in the Feb. 28 contest. His contributions came as part of Penn State’s competitive early-season stretch against non-conference opponents, finishing the weekend with 2 hits, 2 RBI, and timely situational hitting for the Nittany Lions.
Owen Washburn was a key bat for Wichita State, finishing the period with at least 3 hits including a pair of singles, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, and 1 walk in competitive games against Omaha and other opponents. He helped ignite the Shockers’ offense by singling in a run and later scoring on a teammate’s play on Feb. 28, showcasing consistent on-base action and contributing both in the early and later innings as part of a balanced Wichita State attack.
Nick Bowron connected on his first collegiate hit for Creighton.
