2015 Schedule | 2015 Roster | 2014 Final Stats

Last year's historic run to the best record in the program's history (44-13) and within one inning of a College World Series trip did little more than whet the appetite and raise the bar of expectation even higher for the Drury Baseball Panthers.

"Being as close as we were last year to a CWS trip, it has changed our mindset," third-year head coach Scott Nasby says. "In our short history as a program, we have always had lofty goals. Getting with three outs away from the College World Series has made those goals even higher."

They key to putting themselves in that position again in 2015 for the Panthers - who open the season Friday and Saturday with a four-game series at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas (Schedule Update: Now with noon doubleheaders each day) - will be how quickly several new faces step in to fill holes and roles that Drury hasn't had to fill for years, before graduation of a bevy of four-year standouts last spring made it a necessity.

The two spots in the pitching rotation that belonged to Will Landsheft (drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks last summer, a first for a DU player) and Kevin Sweeney. The incredible consistency and numbers posted by the likes of outfielder Nick Thimesch - who posted the greatest offensive single-season in the proram's eight-year history in 2014, earning multiple All-America honors - shortstop Caleb Cole and third baseman Colton Jones. The leadership and production of the likes of Emilio Villaneuva, Cole Faulconer and Taylor Bax, and the non-stop enthusiasm of a Brad Hollenbeck.

But the cupboard is far from bare, indicated by the fact that most national preseason polls have the Panthers have a Top 20 program this spring and the Great Lakes Valley Conference coaches picked defending champion DU as a close second to a veteran, loaded Quincy team in the West preseason poll.

Three of the top five starting pitchers return, including the team's game one starter of last year, senior right-hander Trevor Richards (8-2, 1.71 ERA). Richards didn't allow an earned run over his last 18 1/3 innings during the post-season run last year, including a five-hit, complete-game shutout of Wayne State in the NCAA-II tourney opener. 

The two-time First Team All-GLVC pitcher, and an All-Midwest Region First Team choice by ABCA and Daktronics last year, enters his senior season with a career 18-9 record and a sparkling 2.72 ERA in 39 career appearances as a Panthers. 

"I don't think you'd have anyone on the team argue that Trevor Richards was our No. 1 guy (last year)," Nasby says. "He might not jump off the page with his velocity, but Trevor has all the tools to be one of the best D2 pitchers in the country again this year. He's had numerous (pro) teams inquire about him over the fall and winter, and he had some strong looks from MLB teams at the end of last year, but lacked a "draftable" third pitch or velocity. We believe he has added those pieces since last season. He was one of the best in the Coastal Plains League last summer and has a track record that scouts have taken notice of."

Providing a strong 1-2 punch for the Panthers at the top of the rotation is senior right-hander Austin Faulconer (21-6, 3.27 ERA in 37 career appearances). Faulconer was 8-2 last season with a 3.11 ERA, and allowed one earned run or less in seven of his 11 appearances. A gritty competitor, Faulconer put that on display when he limited traditional power Grand Valley State to one run and five hits over 7 2/3 innings of a DU victory over the Lakers in the NCAA-II regional to allow the Panthers to reach the title game.

From there, the Panthers will turn to sophomore right-hander Ryan Colombo (6-1, 2.89 ERA) as a solid No. 3 in the weekend rotation, with the fourth spot likely going to either junior left-hander Luke Burnidge or freshman right-hander Austin Simms. The bullpen is solid at the back end once again with senior right-hander Gage Jacobs (1.88 ERA, six saves) as closer and freshman right-hander Nick Costantino slated for several innings of work.

Offensively, the Panthers will look to fill several key, vacated slots from a team that hit a GLVC-best .347 last year, the biggest being those of all-league performers Thimesch (school-records with .464 batting average, 104 hits, 33 stolen bases) and Cole (.374, 54 RBIs, 18 SBs). 

Senior first baseman Luke Tewes returns after batting .356 with 15 doubles, seven homers and a school-record 62 RBIs, and will man the No. 3 hole in the batting order that Thimesch starred in last season, when the Panthers won the GLVC post-season tourney, then fell 4-2 to eventual national champion Southern Indiana in the Midwest Regional title game in Evansville, Ind., (after entering the ninth tied at 2).

"Tewes has tremendous ability at the plate and can put on a show with his strength and power at the plate," Nasby says. "His plate discipline is unmatched at our level for a power hitter. If he puts up the numbers that he did last year, he should have some interested (pro) parties come June."

Tewes will have a couple of new faces likely batting ahead of him - freshman outfielder Ryan Wadkins and freshman shortstop Mike Rafter, who steps into a position that's only been held full-time by two four-year players in the programs history - Cole and former DU great Joe Rohlfing.

"Big shoes to fill ... but he has tons of talent," Nasby says of Rafter, who hails from La Habra, Calif. 

Wadkins brings a huge speed element to the top of the lineup and a plus-arm in the outfield. 

"When he is on base, he will cause problems for the opponent and change the face of what we can do," Nasby says.

The Panthers also anticipate power and production from the cleanup spot junior 1B/DH Conner Wilson, a former Strafford High School star who transferred into the program this season from NCAA Division I Missouri State.

But Nasby cautions that, outside the aforementioned players and returning senior catcher Tyler Arthur (as well as Colombo, who will likely be the everyday second baseman this spring after playing some third last year), this lineup could have a vastly different look on a per-game basis. Veterans like Spencer Wilmes (moving from the OF to third base this year), outfielders Dallas Williams (one of the post-season heroes of a year ago) and Bobby Lang and junior transfers John Goodrich and Christian Magno will find their way into the lineup in some form or fashion on a regular basis.

The intrigue of the the new faces and their potential has Nasby and assistant coaches Logan Hughes, Eric Peterson and Courtney Spitz excited to get going to see just what 2015 will hold for an encore. The Panthers certainly will be challenged right off the bat, as St. Edward's (6-4) is ranked 13th in one poll and has made three consecutive trips to the NCAA-II tourney, including a World Series appearance in 2013.The Hilltoppers have gone 43-15 and 39-16 the past two seasons in dominating the Heartland Conference, Drury's former home before joining the GLVC.

After playing Wisconsin-Parkside Feb. 28-March 1 in their home-opening (and a non-conference) series at Meador Park, Drury will head to central Florida for challenges against No. 15 Minnesota State-Mankato (48-11 and a CWS team last year), Grand Valley State and Florida Tech before diving into GLVC play the following weekend.

"We are excited to get started and see how our key returners and impact new guys will factor into what Drury Baseball has become the last eight years," Nasby says. "We believe that we have more talent than we've had in nine seasons. In the same breath, this squad is as young as our 2007 and 2011 squads, and we have some very tough  tests early in the year, with seven of our first 11 games against teams that have been to the College World Series in the last two years. Those teams have been where we want to be, and we will have a quick learning curve to get to where we want to be come late May."