Friday, February 2
Houston, Texas
10:00 A.M. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Southern New Hampshire
Photo by: Thomas Breach
St. Cloud State Baseball Opens 2024 Season at Houston Winter Invitational
2/1/2024 11:39:00 AM | Baseball
Huskies to play three games at Houston Astros’ Minute Maid Park
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Baseball will open up the 2024 season with a three-game set at the Houston Winter Invitational, set to be played Feb. 2-4 at the Houston Astros' Minute Maid Park. The Huskies will make their third trip appearance at Houston Winter Invitational after also opening their 2016 and 2019 seasons at the event. SCSU is undefeated when playing in the event after going 3-0 in both trips to Houston.
THE FIELD IN HOUSTON
The Huskies season-opener will be on Friday, February 2 when SCSU takes the field against No. 9 Southern New Hampshire at 10:00 a.m. CT. Then, the Huskies will face Arkansas Tech on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. CT and No. 7 Millersville at 10:00 a.m. CT on Sunday. No live stream will be available for the tournament, but live stats will be available through the host institution, Central Missouri's website and can be access here.
The Huskies will play Southern New Hampshire and Millersville for the first time this weekend. Saturday's matchup against Arkansas Tech will be the 7th meeting between the teams with each team winning three games. The programs last played in the 2014 season where the Wonder Boys beat the Huskies 5-4.
SCSU will have its work cutout for them to open the season, as all three of the Huskies opponents enter the tournament ranked either nationally, regionally or both. SCSU opens with Southern New Hampshire, who begins the season as the top team ranked in the east regional and No. 9 nationally in the NCBWA Preseason Poll. Las season, SNH reached the NCAA Division-II College World Series and advanced to the semifinal round after posting a 2023 record of 44-13. SCSU's Saturday opponent, Arkansas Tech is currently ranked No. 6 in the Central region after posting a mark of 32-22 in 2023. The Huskies will finish the tournament with No. 7 Millersville, who enter atop the Atlantic Region after a 46-10 mark and NCAA Division-II College World Series appearance in 2023.
SUCCESS IN HOUSTON
SCSU will look to continue its success at the Houston Winter Invitational, as they enter the weekend with a 6-0 mark at the event after perfect 3-0 trips to open the 2016 and 2019 seasons. In 2016, the Huskies beat St. Mary's (14-10), Tarleton State (12-3) and Central Missouri (2-1) on Feb. 5-7. In 2019, SCSU beat Texas A&M Kingsville (7-2), Tarleton State (9-1) and Central Missouri (7-3) on Feb. 1-3.
St. Cloud State comes into this season being projected to finish 3rd in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after finishing in 4th place in the regular season a year ago. The Huskies ran the table in the postseason and won their fourth NSIC Championship after beating Minnesota State-Mankato 13-7 in a winner-take-all game at Mandan, N.D. The Huskies won the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament but were knocked out of the tournament after two losses to Central Missouri.
NSIC PRESEASON POLL
St. Cloud State Baseball was selected to finish third in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the league office on Jan. 18. Additionally, graduate Cal James (Buffalo, Minn.) was named the Player to Watch and redshirt junior Luke Tupy (New Prague, Minn.) was named the Pitcher to Watch.
The Huskies finished fourth in the NSIC standings in 2023 with a conference mark of 20-10 before making a run to win the 2023 NSIC Tournament and earn a spot in the 2023 NCAA regional tournament. The NSIC championship was the sixth conference title under head coach Pat Dolan while the Huskies advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in the Dolan era and 12th time overall.
James transfers into St. Cloud State after a stellar career at fellow NSIC school U-Mary. In 2023, James earned All-NSIC First Team honors while batting .382 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI while recording a .509 OBP and .674 SLG%. He was also named the 2021 NSIC Freshman of the Year and earned 2021 All-NSIC First Team honors.
Tupy, the 2022 NSIC Freshman of the Year and All-NSIC First Team selection, went 4-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 44.2 inning pitched in 2023.
COACHES CORNER
Head coach Pat Dolan will be entering his 17th season with the Huskies in 2024 and his 28th season as a collegiate head coach. During his tenure at SCSU, Dolan has posted a record of 579-222-1 and has led St. Cloud State to six NSIC Championships (NSIC Tournament – 2011, 2015, 2016, 2023; NSIC Regular Season – 2013, 2015) and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Assistant Coach Rob "Doc" Swendra partners with Dolan in his 13th season at St. Cloud State and is currently the third-longest tenured assistant coach in the NSIC.
New this season is newly graduated Riley Ahern, who will handle the pitching staff as Assistant Coach and Volunteer Assistant Coach Rob Moone.
QUOTABLES FROM COACH DOLAN
On his 2024 team outlook…
"Like any new team, we lost some solid seniors and great leaders and we also lost a few of our top players and captains to the transfer portal. But I really like the makeup of our team and how they all work hard and get along so well. The fall season was one of the most fun falls I've had and that is really what it's all about. When you have some talent that works hard and has fun playing the game it usually is a formula for a solid season."
On NSIC Player to Watch Cal James…
"Cal is an all-around solid player both offensively and defensively and he has a great understanding of the game. He has fit in great with the team as a grad transfer and does a great job leading the team with his experience."
On NSIC Pitcher to Watch Luke Tupy…
"Luke is a true competitor on the mound and wants the ball in big games. As a captain, he has done an outstanding job leading the team with his work ethic and leadership. We are expecting another big year, as he is finally 100% healthy."
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
THE FIELD IN HOUSTON
The Huskies season-opener will be on Friday, February 2 when SCSU takes the field against No. 9 Southern New Hampshire at 10:00 a.m. CT. Then, the Huskies will face Arkansas Tech on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. CT and No. 7 Millersville at 10:00 a.m. CT on Sunday. No live stream will be available for the tournament, but live stats will be available through the host institution, Central Missouri's website and can be access here.
The Huskies will play Southern New Hampshire and Millersville for the first time this weekend. Saturday's matchup against Arkansas Tech will be the 7th meeting between the teams with each team winning three games. The programs last played in the 2014 season where the Wonder Boys beat the Huskies 5-4.
SCSU will have its work cutout for them to open the season, as all three of the Huskies opponents enter the tournament ranked either nationally, regionally or both. SCSU opens with Southern New Hampshire, who begins the season as the top team ranked in the east regional and No. 9 nationally in the NCBWA Preseason Poll. Las season, SNH reached the NCAA Division-II College World Series and advanced to the semifinal round after posting a 2023 record of 44-13. SCSU's Saturday opponent, Arkansas Tech is currently ranked No. 6 in the Central region after posting a mark of 32-22 in 2023. The Huskies will finish the tournament with No. 7 Millersville, who enter atop the Atlantic Region after a 46-10 mark and NCAA Division-II College World Series appearance in 2023.
SUCCESS IN HOUSTON
SCSU will look to continue its success at the Houston Winter Invitational, as they enter the weekend with a 6-0 mark at the event after perfect 3-0 trips to open the 2016 and 2019 seasons. In 2016, the Huskies beat St. Mary's (14-10), Tarleton State (12-3) and Central Missouri (2-1) on Feb. 5-7. In 2019, SCSU beat Texas A&M Kingsville (7-2), Tarleton State (9-1) and Central Missouri (7-3) on Feb. 1-3.
St. Cloud State comes into this season being projected to finish 3rd in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after finishing in 4th place in the regular season a year ago. The Huskies ran the table in the postseason and won their fourth NSIC Championship after beating Minnesota State-Mankato 13-7 in a winner-take-all game at Mandan, N.D. The Huskies won the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament but were knocked out of the tournament after two losses to Central Missouri.
NSIC PRESEASON POLL
St. Cloud State Baseball was selected to finish third in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the league office on Jan. 18. Additionally, graduate Cal James (Buffalo, Minn.) was named the Player to Watch and redshirt junior Luke Tupy (New Prague, Minn.) was named the Pitcher to Watch.
The Huskies finished fourth in the NSIC standings in 2023 with a conference mark of 20-10 before making a run to win the 2023 NSIC Tournament and earn a spot in the 2023 NCAA regional tournament. The NSIC championship was the sixth conference title under head coach Pat Dolan while the Huskies advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in the Dolan era and 12th time overall.
James transfers into St. Cloud State after a stellar career at fellow NSIC school U-Mary. In 2023, James earned All-NSIC First Team honors while batting .382 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI while recording a .509 OBP and .674 SLG%. He was also named the 2021 NSIC Freshman of the Year and earned 2021 All-NSIC First Team honors.
Tupy, the 2022 NSIC Freshman of the Year and All-NSIC First Team selection, went 4-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 44.2 inning pitched in 2023.
COACHES CORNER
Head coach Pat Dolan will be entering his 17th season with the Huskies in 2024 and his 28th season as a collegiate head coach. During his tenure at SCSU, Dolan has posted a record of 579-222-1 and has led St. Cloud State to six NSIC Championships (NSIC Tournament – 2011, 2015, 2016, 2023; NSIC Regular Season – 2013, 2015) and 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Assistant Coach Rob "Doc" Swendra partners with Dolan in his 13th season at St. Cloud State and is currently the third-longest tenured assistant coach in the NSIC.
New this season is newly graduated Riley Ahern, who will handle the pitching staff as Assistant Coach and Volunteer Assistant Coach Rob Moone.
QUOTABLES FROM COACH DOLAN
On his 2024 team outlook…
"Like any new team, we lost some solid seniors and great leaders and we also lost a few of our top players and captains to the transfer portal. But I really like the makeup of our team and how they all work hard and get along so well. The fall season was one of the most fun falls I've had and that is really what it's all about. When you have some talent that works hard and has fun playing the game it usually is a formula for a solid season."
On NSIC Player to Watch Cal James…
"Cal is an all-around solid player both offensively and defensively and he has a great understanding of the game. He has fit in great with the team as a grad transfer and does a great job leading the team with his experience."
On NSIC Pitcher to Watch Luke Tupy…
"Luke is a true competitor on the mound and wants the ball in big games. As a captain, he has done an outstanding job leading the team with his work ethic and leadership. We are expecting another big year, as he is finally 100% healthy."
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Baseball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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