ALAMOSA, Colo. – Adams State Baseball continues their preseason battle to challenge Midland University and Arizona Christian in a pod series in Glendale, Arizona.
 
Opponents: Midland Warriors and Arizona Christian Firestorm
 
When: Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 - 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
               Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 - 9 a.m.
               Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 - 9 a.m.
 
Where: Glendale, Ariz. – Glendale Community College
 
First Pitch

• Adams State continues their preseason on the road in Arizona. The Grizzlies are coming off a tough opening weekend in Texas, where the Grizzlies went 0-4.
• Though the scores did not favor the Grizzlies, Adams State showed signs of a positive offense, outhitting the Pioneers of Wayland Baptist in game two and scoring 9 runs in game four.
• The Grizzlies were picked to finish 10^th in the 2020 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The team totaled 9 points in the poll.

 
Quick Hits
Adams State Baseball History

• Grizzlies Baseball begins its eighth season as an NCAA sport. The program was re-instituted prior to the 2013 season after a 35 year hiatus.
• Prior to the 2013, Adams State last sponsored baseball in 1976 season when the program was still a member of the NAIA.
• Adams State enjoyed quite a bit of success winning back-to-back RMAC championships in 1973 and 1974.
• The Grizzlies posted the best overall record in the conference in each of the last four years (1973-76) while sponsoring the sport before it was discontinued.

 
Last Time Out

• The Grizzlies went 0-4 against Wayland Baptist in their season opener. Adams State fell 8-1 in game one, and 5-3 in game two.
• Adams State dropped game three 11-0, allowing the Pioneers to score at least one run in the first six innings.
• Game four started in Adams State's favor, grabbing a quick 8-3 lead through three innings. Wayland Baptist responded in the eighth, scoring five runs to put them past the Grizzlies, 11-9.

 
Batter Up!

• The Grizzlies are opening the season with a .218 batting average, led by freshman Matt Bathauer. He tops the Grizzlies with a .444 average, followed by Will Morely, batting a .417.
• Kolton Bleggi is also one of the Grizzlies top batters, with a .384 average.
• Both Morely and Bleggi are leading Adams State, each with 2 RBIs a piece.

On the Mound

• Chase Strand is leading the Grizzlies on the hill with a 0.00 ERA through three complete innings.
• Dalton Carelo is also a leader on the hill completing five innings with a 5.4 ERA.
• Alfredo Villa is leading Adams State with 9 strikeouts, followed by Strand with 6, Troy Gutbub with 5, and Carleo with 4.

 
Scouting Midland

• The Warriors are opening their season this weekend in Glendale, Arizona.
• Midland University finished their 2019 campaign ranking 5^th in the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). The Warriors ended their season 16-12 in the GPAC and 24-25 overall.
• In the 2020 GPAC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Warriors were picked to finish 3^rd, sporting 67 points.
• Last season, the Warriors were led by senior Austin Hamilton. Hamilton led the Midland offense with a .350 batting average, a .599 slugging percentage, and collecting 34 RBIs.
• Senior, Matt Abdelnour was also a big influence in the Warrior's 2019 campaign. Abdelnour led Midland with 9 homeruns holding a .305 average and a .567 slugging percentage.
• Leading the Warriors on the bump were senior Brandon Jones and junior James Scurto. Jones carried a 1.06 ERA in his 17 innings pitched. Scurto held a 3.56 ERA throughout his 15 starts ad 60.2 innings pitched.
• As a unit, Midland University bat an average of .288, and holds a 6.28 ERA.

 
Scouting Arizona Christian

• Arizona Christian enters the 2020 season from a strong 2019 campaign. The Firestorm finished 2^nd in the NAIA Colden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) rankings and made it to the first round of the GSAC tournament.
• The Firestorm ending their 2019 season 39-21 overall and 15-8 in GSAC.
• Arizona Christian is entering the weekend with a 6-2 record. So far this season the Firestorm have held a four-game win streak. The Firestorm are coming into the pod series off a 5-4 loss to Benedictine University at Mesa.
• In their first eight games, the Firestorm are batting .330 being led by Kurtis Roberts, holding a .556 batting average and .556 slugging percentage. Arizona Christian also has four men batting over .400: Justin Ramirez with a .467, Zach Baptist with a .450, D'Marcus Guillory with a .429, and Bryan Levine with a .417. The Firestorm are also being led by Ramon Miranda, who is carrying a .386 average with 8 RBIs.
• Leading Arizona Christian on the hill is junior, Sergio Heguertty. Heguertty has started two game and made it through 10 innings with a 0.90 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
• As a team, Arizona Christian bats a .330 average and carries a 4.99 ERA.

 
Up Next

• Adams State Baseball will host their home opener against the University of the Southwest. The four-game series will span across two days, February 14 and 15.
• Both days will feature doubleheaders with the first pitch set to be thrown at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.