March 24th

Perfect Game/Player of the Week:

Quinton Coats, IF, Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bearcats (19-7) are on the cusp of the Top 25 and are playing their best ball of the season. The offense has been the driving force behind their success, and it has been incredibly consistent having averaged 8.5-runs per game. In the middle of it all, Quinton Coats, is on pace for a historic season both within the program and on a national level. The 6-3/225 infielder from Olathe, KS has been launching home runs at a record pace and opponents seem to be powerless to stop his onslaught. With incredible strength in his hands, Coats creates easy loft and in 5 road games last week he collected 9 hits in 20 at-bats, with 4 home runs, 9 runs scored, and he drove in a total of 9 runs as well. As for his pursuit of history, the modern day BBCOR bat standard single season home run record is 34, set back in 2024. We are not even at the half-way point of the season yet and Coats has already left the yard 18 times. So, with the protection he has in the lineup, it is reasonable to think the record is well within reach. For the season, he is slashing .376/.954/.461 with 7 doubles, those 18 home runs and he has driven 26 runs. After making an appearance in the NCAA tournament a year ago, with Coats and the high-powered offense, it looks like the Bearcats are well on their way to back-to-back postseason berths.

Perfect Game/Pitcher of the Week:

Tyler Fay, RHP, Alabama

The Alabama Crimson Tide (18-7) have put together a solid campaign thus far that has found them just on the outskirts of the Top 25 for most of the season. They started off SEC play with a tough road series two weekends ago, getting swept by Kentucky and they welcomed the Florida Gators to Tuscaloosa last weekend. Tyler Fay, the 6-5/215 RHP from Doniphan, NE would continue his duties as the Friday night starter for his club and would look to right the ship in league play. It has been a bit of mixed bag of results this year for the redshirt-junior, several starts being dominant but in others not quite at his best. It all came together in an unforgettable way in Game 1 against the Gators as Fay spun the program’s 9th no-hitter all time. He became the first pitcher since 1942 to throw an individual 9.0-inning no hitter for the Tide and registered the first no-hitter of any kind since the 2014 season. Fay would retire 27 of the 29 batters he faced, allowing just two baserunners in the form of two walks. Using a bit of a crossfire look, he used his low-to-mid 90s fastball, mid-80s changeup, and

cutter/slider combo to miss barrels all day. Using 132 pitches, his final line was 9.0 IP, no hits, no runs, 2 walks and finished 13 hitters via the strikeout. For the year, Fay has now made 6 starts with a 4.06 ERA, a 4-2 record over 37.2 IP while accumulating an incredible 47:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Alabama’s strength been the quality of their rotation and if Fay can stay in this zone, he will surely lead his club back to the postseason once again.

Perfect Game/Freshman of the Week:

Michael Senay, RHP, USF

The South Florida Bulls (20-4) are putting together the type of season that hasn’t been seen in Tampa for quite some time and are up to No. 23 in our Top 25 poll. Making his second appearance as Freshman of the Week, Michael Senay is the first player to win this award multiple time in a single season. The Bulls are winners of 9 of their past 10 games and took home their first American Athletic Association series last weekend. They accomplished this the hard way after dropping Game 1 of the weekend and handed the ball to Senay to make his 5th start of the season. The 6-2/200 RHP from Orlando, FL has been unconscious on the mound since breaking into the rotation. With impeccable control of his 3-pitch mix, Senay works off his low-to-mid 90s heater, devastating slider and advanced changeup to keep hitters in limbo. In his first conference start, he delivered a gem going 8.2 IP against Rice, allowing just 3 hits, no runs, 1 walk while retiring 9 batters via the strikeout. The Bulls needed all they could get from Senay as they took home the 2-0 shutout victory to even the series. With his latest masterpiece, the righty is now 4-0 with a miniscule 0.68 ERA over 39.2 IP, allowing just 23 hits while accumulating a spectacular 35:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. If USF continues to get this type of effort from Senay, not only are they a contender for the AAC regular season title, they should return to postseason play ready to make some noise.

March 17th

Perfect Game/Player of the Week:

Vahn Lackey, C, Georgia Tech

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (17-3) came into the season with the highest external expectations in decades based on the anticipation of their offensive potential. To this point they have not only met those lofty expectations, but twenty games in they may have exceeded them. While there are plenty of high-level prospects up and down the lineup, with all that star power Vahn Lackey has stood out. Sure to be one of the first catchers selected in this year’s MLB Draft with his comprehensive skillset, he projects well as an everyday backstop at the next level. However, his overall athleticism stands out as we saw this week when he had a game where he played every defensive position on the field except pitcher. At the plate over four games including a series victory at Clemson last week, he went 9 for 15, scoring 7 runs, driving in 7 runs, with 2 doubles, 3 home runs and working 3 walks all told. His season totals are astronomical as he is slashing .479/.972/.602 with 6 doubles, a triple, 9 home runs, 7 stolen bases and he has collected 31 RBIs. The Yellow Jackets are proving, not only are they ACC title contenders but look like they have what it takes for a trip to Omaha and a shot at the elusive national title.

Perfect Game/Pitchers of the Week:

Wes Mendes, LHP, Florida State

The Florida State Seminoles (16-3) made, quite possibly, the biggest statement of the year on a national level by going to Wake Forest and sweeping the Deacs in a 3-game set. While sweeping the ACC series in and of itself is extremely impressive, the fact that the Seminoles threw shutouts in the first two games of the series in one of the most hitter friendly parks in all of college baseball in incredible. Setting the tone for the staff in Game 1, Wes Mendes, from Tampa, FL, was surgical with his 4-pitch mix as he controlled the game beginning to end. The 6-1/195 junior, southpaw maintained leverage counts all day, and benefitting from the run-rule was able to throw his complete game in just 7.0 IP. Using exactly 100 pitches in the outing, Mendes allowed just 2 hits, no runs, 2 walks and struck out a total of 11 batters. Working with his explosive 92-95 mph fastball, he picked hitters apart and used a fading changeup, mid-80s 2-plane slider and vertical curve to induce significant swing and miss. For the season, Mendes is already 5-0 with a 0.63 ERA over 28.2 IP, allowing just 11 hits and 9 walks while striking out a total of 41 opposing batters. A premium talent on the bump, this lefty should get strong consideration in the coming MLB Draft.

Trey Beard, LHP, Florida State

With the Game 1 victory of their road ACC series against Wake Forest, the Florida State Seminoles (16-3) would hand the ball to the top transfer arm in the nation, Trey Beard, to start the middle game. After the complete domination on Friday, it would be tough for Beard to follow up the opening act put on by fellow lefty Wes Mendes. Well, as unlikely as it would seem, Beard may have surpassed the performance from 24-hours earlier. The 6-2/185 junior from Dunedin, FL transferred in from FAU and hasn’t skipped a beat with the transition to ACC play. Armed with a low-90s fastball, a devastating changeup in the upper-70s, a curveball and a cutter, he put on a pitching display to remember. Using 90-pitches to cruise through 6.2 IP, he allowed just one hit, no runs, 1 free pass while striking out and impressive 14 batters in his clubs 2-0 victory. Beard is now 2-0 on the season after making his third start where he has allowed just 7 hits in 19.0 IP and has built a 28:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. With the 1-2 punch of Mendes and Beard leading the rotation, it sure seems like FSU could make a push for yet another trip to Omaha in 2026.

Perfect Game/Freshman of the Week:

Wyatt Nadeau, RHP, Vanderbilt

The Vanderbilt Commodores (13-8) have had an interesting season in 2026 thus far, at times looking like a middle of the pack SEC team and at others looking like Omaha contenders. The mystery hasn’t been how they will produce runs, but rather how they will keep the opposition in check on the mound. The rotation has seen seven different pitchers make multiple starts as of this past weekend and it looks like freshman, Wyatt Nadeau means to secure his role as a weekend starter. Making his first start in SEC play in Game 2 of Vanderbilt’s series victory over LSU, Nadeau was a workhorse and put his club in great position for their 11-3 win. Using mainly his power, mid-to-upper 90s fastball and upper-80s slider, he only needed 104 pitches to complete 7.0 IP, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks and he punched out 10 opposing hitters. For the season, Nadeau is now sporting a 1-0 record with a minuscule 1.50 ERA over 18.0 IP, where he has only allowed 10 hits and put together a 25:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. As the Commodores settle into the middle of the season, the emergence of Nadeau in the rotation could be exactly what is needed for this club to go on a serious run.

March 10

Perfect Game/Player of the Week: 

Lorenzo Carrier, OF, Pitt 

The Pitt Panthers (12-2) are off to one of the best starts in recent program history and their offense has performed as one of the best in the country.  For the season, they are averaging almost 12-runs per game and on their recent trip to the West Coast, Lorenzo Carrier went on the kind of hot streak that is hard to comprehend.  The 6-5/215 senior from Bear, DE was a one-man wrecking crew in their 4-wins last week, starting with the fact that he reached base safely in 17 of his 19 trips to the plate.  He collected 13 hits in 14 official at-bats, scoring 10 runs, with 4 walks, 2 triples, 4 home runs and he drove in an insane 19-runs.  Carrier has refined his approach, simplified his bat path and is creating massive power that has him putting up career numbers.  For the season, he is slashing .490/1.082/.600 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs and 36 RBIs.  Pitt opens ACC play at Stanford this weekend and are looking like they are a club to contend with in 2026.   

Perfect Game/Pitcher of the Week: 

Mason Edwards, LHP, USC 

The USC Trojans (15-0) are off to a storybook start to the season that matches the best start in program history.  It’s no secret that the driving force behind their success is a pitching staff that has performed better than any across the country to this point.  That brings us to Mason Edwards, the junior LHP from Los Angeles who quite simply has been the best starting pitcher in the nation.  In his start on the road at Illinois to open Big Ten play, he was virtually flawless going 6.0 IP, allowing just 2 hits, not runs, and 2 walks while striking out 11 batters.  Edwards uses an elite mix of a riding fastball that will reach the mid-90s, a low-80s breaker that he varies shapes with and a deceptive changeup to dominate hitters.  A strong Day 1 draft candidate, he is now (3-0) in 4-starts on the season and has yet to allow a single run.  That’s right, Edwards has a 0.00 ERA in 24.0 IP, incredibly allowing just 3 hits all season for an OBA of .039 and is sporting a 42:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  The Trojans are legitimate Big Ten contenders, have a team ERA of 1.47 and opponents are only batting .160 against them for the year.  It’s been a fun year in LA so far and the Trojans aren’t going away in 2026.    

Perfect Game/Co-Freshman of the Week: 

Myles Upchurch, RHP, Alabama 

The Alabama Crimson Tide (14-3) are off to a solid start to 2026 and have been right on the edge of our Top 25 for the last three weeks.  They are a nicely balanced club with offensive firepower and quality depth on the mound.  One of the brightest spots for the club has been the emergence of freshman RHP, Myles Upchurch.  The 6-4/230 athlete from Odenton, MD has been the Tide’s best starting pitcher for the first month of the season.  Armed with a fastball that lives in the mid-90s, a hard curveball with late depth, a tight slider with two-plane shape, a devastating changeup, Upchurch has been dominant in his 4-starts thus far.  He has put together a (3-1) record over 18.2 IP, allowing 13 hits and accumulated a 31:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  Alabama will be right in the thick of things in the SEC and open conference play at Kentucky this weekend.  It’s a pretty nice luxury to have a pitcher of Upchurch’s caliber starting the last game of a series, so the Tide could make a real run this year.   

Sam Cozart, RHP, Texas 

The Texas Longhorns (15-0) are off to one of the best starts in program history and have taken care of business at the plate and on the mound.  The Longhorn pitching staff is currently 3rd in the country with a team ERA of 2.30 and have been the beneficiaries of multiple run-rule shortening victories with offensive outbursts in the middle innings.  One key has been getting quality starts and length to allow the bullpen to maximize its capabilities.  Handling the starting role in the last two mid-weeks, Sam Cozart, the 6-6/260 righthander from High Point, NC has put together back-to-back quality starts.  Using his blend of a fastball that sits 93-96, an upper-80s cutter, a low-80s sweeper and curve to go with the occasional splitfinger, he has pushed his record to (3-0) on the young season.  Last Tuesday, he threw 5.0 IP, surrendering only a solo homerun in route to facing one batter above the minimum and striking out 6 batters along the way.  For the season, Cozart has made 3 appearances, 2 starts over 13.0 IP with an ERA of 1.38, allowing 5 hits, 3 walks and he has punched out 18 all told.  The Longhorns are up to No. 2 in the country this week and start SEC play at home against Ole Miss this weekend. 

March 3

Perfect Game/Player of the Week: 
Cider Canon, OF, Duke 

The Duke Blue Devils (11-3) went through massive changes in the offseason, with a new coaching staff and heavy roster turnover like is often seen in the college game today.  That hasn’t held them back as they have kind of flown under the radar on their way to a tie for the most wins in the nation.  They won 4 out 5 games last week and Cider Canon was the driving force behind their offensive onslaught.  The 5-11/180 outfielder from San Marino, CA put together an incredible week collecting 9 hits in 14 at-bats, good for a .643 BA, scoring 7 runs, with 3 walks, 4 home runs and driving in a total of 10 runs.  After a successful couple years at Davidson College, Cider made the trip north to Durham and has fit right into the Blue Devil’s high-octane offense.  For the season, he is now slashing .452/.952/.574 with a double, a triple, 6 home runs, 9 stolen bases and 21 RBIs.  Duke opens ACC play this coming weekend and while there weren’t necessarily high expectations externally coming into the new year, it is clear they are going to make noise once again in 2026. 

Perfect Game/Pitcher of the Week: 
Michael Sharman, LHP, Clemson 

After getting shutout 7-0 in Game 1 of the Palmetto Series, the Clemson Tigers (10-1) needed someone to take the mound and take things in hand to even the series.  That man was veteran lefthander Michael Sharman, and he put on a pure clinic of pitching efficiency in a 4-1 win that hasn’t been seen in quite some time.  At 6-1/190 the Tennessee transfer used a blend of riding 4-seamers, cutters, sweepers and changeups to navigate his complete game gem on only 78 pitches.  Sharman surrendered 4 hits, 1 earned run, no free passes and punched out 4 batters all told.  But, to appreciate the real brilliance, let’s start with the fact that he only threw 11 pitches that weren’t strikes the entire outing, good for 68% strikes.  Beyond that, only 2 out of 31 batters saw a 2-ball count, none of which saw a 3-ball count.  To finish the story, only 9 batters even saw a ball and Sharman never threw more than 11 pitches in a single inning.  In an era where the rage is velocity, it was refreshing to see someone understand their craft well enough to pitch to contact and allow his team to make plays for him.  On the season, Sharman is already 3-0 in 3 starts with a 0.90 ERA in 20.0 IP, allowing just 7 hits, 1 BB with a total of 18 punch outs.  The Tigers ended up walking away with the series victory over the rival Gamecocks the following day and Sharman was the one who turned the tide.    

Perfect Game/Freshman of the Week: 
Michael Senay, RHP, USF 

To say that there is no love lost between the USF Bulls (9-3) and the UCF Knights would be a massive understatement.  Due to inclement weather on Friday night, that meant the dreaded double-header would start the series off on Saturday.  USF to Game 1 convincingly by a score of 9-2 and since twin-bills result in a split 80% of the time, it would be a tall tale for the Bulls to secure the series with Game 2.  Freshman and Orlando native, Michael Senay, had other ideas as he took the ball in the start.  The 6-2/200 righty worked heavily off his low-to-mid 90s fastball and tight slider to keep opposing hitters off balance.  He needed only 80 pitches to navigate 7.0 IP, allowing just 4 hits, no runs, 1 BB and 5 strikeouts.  While he didn’t factor in the decision since his club took 10-innings to win the series with a 2-1 victory, he did put the bullpen in great position to hold down the fort.  For the season, Senay is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA over 2 starts and 3 appearances, totaling 18.2 IP with a 15:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.  USF looks like they are a team to recon with in the American Athletic Conference this year and Senay should be right in the middle of it. 

February 24

Perfect Game/Player of the Week:
Will Gasparino, OF, UCLA

After playing 117 games, launching 27 doubles and 25 home runs in Austin, TX for the University of Texas, Will Gasparino decided it was time to head back to his hometown of Los Angeles, CA. Based on his performance in the first two weeks of the season for the Bruins, he looks very comfortable and ready to push his name up the Draft Board. UCLA (6-1) enters 2026 with incredibly high expectations, jumped to No. 3 in our Top 25 poll with their 3-game sweep of previously ranked TCU and Gasparino provided much of the offensive firepower. For the week, the 6-6/220 outfielder went 7 for 13 good for a .538 BA, with a double, 5 home runs and 13 RBI. That brings his slash line through 7-games to .391/1.304/.548 with a double, a triple, 6 home runs and he has driven in a total of 15 runs. The scary thing is that Gasparino is just beginning to tap into his extensive skillset and the Bruins have one of the deepest lineups in the nation. All indicators are that UCLA is headed towards another Big Ten title and trip to Omaha, with the pieces to bring home all the hardware this time around.

Perfect Game/Pitcher of the Week:
Dax Whitney, RHP, Oregon State

The Oregon State Beavers (4-3) hit an unexpected bump in the road this weekend at the Round Rock Classic, dropping their last two games of the weekend to Southern Miss and Purdue. However, there is no reason for the fanbase to panic just yet since there is a young man named Dax Whitney who will take the ball every Friday in the starting role. The 6-5/218 righty from Blackfoot, ID has the prototypical pitchers build with an atypical arm path that produces one of the best fastballs in the college game today. Whitney’s heater will reach triple digits and backs that up with a devastating cutter and an abrupt curveball creating a perfect storm for missing barrels. In his winning start against Baylor, he went 7.0 IP, throwing 96 pitches, allowing just 2 hits, no runs, and 1 walk while punching out an incredible 17 batters. For the season, the big righty has thrown 12.0 IP, surrendering 7 hits, 1 earned run, 4 walks and 23 strikeouts. Oregon State is once again looking to build a postseason-worthy resume as the only independent team in the country. With Whitney anchoring their rotation, they must feel certain that Game 1 of each series should be on their side.

Perfect Game/Freshman of the Week:
Dylan Dubovik, OF, Miami

The Miami Hurricanes (9-0) lead the nation in wins and are doing things with the sticks that are performing in an otherworldly way, even by their standards. They have scored 144 runs so far this season, meaning they are averaging 16-runs per game so far and freshman Dylan Dubovik has fit right in, leading the lineup in various categories. The 6-4/205 two-way athlete from Coral Springs, FL creates tremendous leverage and has the intrinsic timing to handle fastballs and off-speed offerings the same. In the 3-game series against Lafayette last weekend, Dubovik collected an unbelievable 9 hits in 11 official at-bats, with 5 of those being for extra-bases, 3 of them home runs and he drove in 9 RBI as well. In his 6 games, he is now slashing .846/1.769/.813 with 3 doubles, those 3 home runs, 11 RBI and he has yet to go down swinging. There is plenty of protection in the lineup and the Hurricanes are dangerous. With all that being said, Dubovik has the talent to put together not only an ACC All-Freshman type of season but a Freshman All-American campaign as well.


February 17th

Perfect Game/Player of the Week:

Tyce Armstrong, IF, Baylor

Opening Day always has a special feel with the sights, sounds and smells bringing back memories of days gone by. But no one that made their way to Magnolia Field at Baylor Ballpark could have imagined what they would witness in the Baylor Bears first game against New Mexico State. Enter 6-4/228, redshirt senior 1B Tyce Armstrong with his power stroke and flare for the dramatic. Transferring in after a successful career at UT Arlington, the Magnolia, TX native would etch his name in the record books with an incredible day at the plate. Armstrong would hit three grand slams in the game, becoming just the second player in NCAA history to accomplish this feat in a single game. His three home runs tied a program record, and his 12 RBIs set a new standard for the Bears. Beyond that, Armstrong matched the 50-year-old record previously set by Louisville’s Jim LaFountain back in 1976. For perspective, no Major League Baseball player has ever hit three grand slams in a single game. Expectations in Waco are higher than they have been in quite some time. Their 15-3 victory set the tone for the second straight year Baylor has opened the season with a sweep, and this club has the look of a contender in the Big 12 this year.

Perfect Game/Pitcher of the Week:

Grant Govel, RHP, USC

The USC Trojans opened the 2026 season by sweeping in-state rival Pepperdine and won Game 2 in sparkling fashion as the club threw a combined no-hitter. Sophomore righty Grant Govel took the ball in the starting role and did the heavy lifting in the 11-0 run-rule victory that only took 7-innings. The 6-0/200 starter from Rolling Hills Estates, CA was virtually flawless in his 6.0 IP as he only faced two batters over the minimum surrendering one walk and one hit-by-pitch. He uses his durable build to create a mid-90s fastball that rides through the zone setting the stage for a devastating, high spin breaker that finishes hitters quickly. Govel needed only 77 pitches to get through his outing, punching out 10 batters along the way. After making 20 appearances his freshman year, four of those starts, it appears that the righty has taken things to the next level. The Trojans have one their best clubs in the last decade and with the way the pitching performed opening weekend, they could be poised to make some noise in the Big Ten in 2026.

Perfect Game/Freshman of the Week:

Angel Laya, OF, Oregon

After the first weekend of the year the Oregon Ducks lead the nation in wins, starting off the season with a 4-game sweep of George Mason. The offense seems like it is already in mid-season form having scored 45-runs during the series and freshman Angel Laya was a huge part of that production. The 6-3/206 lefthanded hitting outfielder from San Diego, CA already looks the part in one of the most physical lineups in the nation. With a sweet swing that creates natural loft, it is a scary thought for opponents that he is just beginning to tap into his power. All told, Laya slashed .538/1.077/.600 good for an OPS of 1.677 and didn’t strikeout the entire weekend. Putting his power on display, he launched 2 HR, a double, scored 5 runs and collected 4 RBIs. The Ducks will be one of the most offensive clubs in the nation, should challenge for the Big Ten regular season title and be in position to host an NCAA Tournament once again.