Opening Day Roundup: Eight Ranked Teams Fall

The season is now one day old. So it’s not time to make any sweeping generalizations after yesterday’s openers, but here’s a look at some of the main takeaways and key performances from opening day.

Upsets Galore

Eight top-25 teams dropped their first game of the season yesterday, with No. 2 Tennessee, No. 3 Stanford, No. 6 Vanderbilt, No. 8 Miami, No. 13 Virginia Tech, No. 17 North Carolina, and No. 18 Oregon State all losing. Tennessee lost a tight 3-1 game against unranked Arizona, highlighted by a strong performance on the mound from junior righthander T.J. Nichols, who went six innings and allowed one earned run, struck out six, and walked one.

Stanford’s performance was particularly underwhelming as they lost 8-1 against Cal State Fullerton, while scattering just four hits. 

No. 6 Vanderbilt was beat handily by No. 14 TCU, 11-4, No. 8 Miami lost to Penn State at home allowing nine runs on 16 hits with Jay Harry (2-6, 3 RBI) and Kyle Hannon (a two-run home run) doing most of the damage for the Nittany Lions.

No. 13 Virginia Tech ran into a buzzsaw in the form of a quality College of Charleston club who kept the Hokies offense at bay. Ty Good was sensational, throwing five shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six. His late-fading changeup and steep curveball were really working for him, and he got plenty of swings and misses with each. Stopper of the year candidate William Privette slammed the door for the Cougs with two perfect innings and four strikeouts of his own. 

No. 17 North Carolina lost to Seton Hall, 10-8. The Pirates used a three-run eighth inning, highlighted by a Will Gale’s go-ahead RBI single.

Finally, No. 18 Oregon State lost to New Mexico 7-2. Gavin Turley was the lone highlight for the Beavers, demolishing a home run in his first collegiate at-bat. RHP Riley Egloff was fantastic for the Lobos, throwing five innings and allowing one earned run while striking out seven. 

LSU Hits the Ground Running

It has been quite some time since a team has received as much preseason hype as No. 1 ranked Louisiana State. With sky-high expectations, some teams will come out of the gate tight. That wasn’t a problem for the Tigers.LSU shutout Western Michigan 10-0 and did so on the back of 6-foot-6 righthander Paul Skenes. Skenes was about as good as one can be, as he threw six shutout innings, striking out 12, walking just one, and allowing only three hits. He ran his fastball up to 99, and comfortably pitched in the 95-98 range throughout his outing. Skenes held his velocity through his 98th and final pitch, which was a 98 MPH fastball. He also mixed in a heavy sinker at 95-97 and a sweepy slider that is a plus secondary offering. Christian Little (2 IP, 3 strikeouts) and Micah Bucknam (1 IP, 1 strikeout) completed the shutout for Coach Jay Johnson and company. 

Dylan Crews pounded out two hits, but the Tigers were led by freshmen Brady Neal and Jared Jones on offense. With 15-20 mph winds blowing straight in from center field, Neal crushed a triple off the top of the wall in right center field and Jones had a two-RBI double.

Freshman Paxton Kling also earned the start and led off for the Tigers which is a loud testament to his ability. The lone negative for LSU was Tommy White’s shoulder injury. He left the game after diving awkwardly into first base after an RBI single. 

Coach Jay Johnson said after the game that he was optimistic the injury will not be a long-term issue.

Statement Win for the Horned Frogs

Texas Christian-Vanderbilt was perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the day, with the Horned Frogs earning a loud 11-4 win. TCU was led by center fielder Elijah Nuñez and potential top-15 overall draft pick Brayden Taylor on offense. Nuñez was 3-for-5 with 4 RBIs, lacing a double and stealing a base in the process, while Taylor was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, highlighted by a no-doubt home run that easily cleared the right field fence at Globe Life Field. Ryan Vanderhei, River Ridings, and Luke Savage kept the ‘Dores offense at bay, with their lone bright spot being shortstop Jonathan Vastine. Vastine had three of Vanderbilt’s five hits, including a ninth-inning home run.

Nick Kurtz Shines for the Demon Deacons

Like LSU, Wake Forest also comes into the 2023 season with incredibly high expectations. The Demon Deacons comfortably beat Youngstown State 9-3 in their opener.

Righthander Seth Keener was outstanding in a spot start on the mound, throwing five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out eight. His slider got plenty of swings and misses, as did his changeup.

The main attraction, however, was first baseman and potential first round draft pick in 2024, Nick Kurtz. Kurtz blasted two home runs, including a grand slam, and had five RBIs on the day. His grand slam was a towering shot, easily clearing the trees in right center. Between Kurtz, Brock Wilken, Jake Reinisch, Tommy Hawke, Adam Cecere, and others this is a Wake Forest offense that should score runs in bunches.

Virginia’s Offensive Explosion

Opening weekend typically brings some lopsided scores with national powers sometimes beginning their respective seasons against lesser opponents. Friday was no different as Virginia pummeled Navy 24-5 in seven innings, highlighted by a 14-run fifth inning. 

The ‘Hoos pounded out 20 hits, including 12 extra base hits (eight doubles, four home runs). Potential day one draft picks Jake Gelof and Kyle Teel went 2-4 and 3-4 respectively, with Gelof hitting two doubles and Teel launching a no-doubt blast over the right field fence. Sophomore outfielder Casey Saucke also went 2-3 with a double and home run of his own, while Northwestern transfer Ethan O’Donnell went 2-4 and hit a home run as well.

Not much can be taken away from games as lopsided as this, but it looks like the Virginia offense will be able to find production from everyone in their lineup on any given day.

Other Statistical Standouts

Two teams hit walk-off grand slams, with Iowa’s Kyle Huckstorf and High Point’s Blake Sutton providing the theatrics for their respective ball clubs. Huckstorf’s blast came in the 11th inning, with Sutton’s coming in the 10th. Their home runs guided each of their teams to a 6-2 victory. 

In a 22-5 drubbing of Siena, UCF’s redshirt senior catcher Ben McCabe had a spectacular 5-for-5 day in which he slugged three home runs and drove in five runs. First baseman Nick Romano also hit two home runs and drove in four runs of his own for the Knights.