GU Game Notes - Feb. 16-18

WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University baseball team opens the 2018 season this weekend, traveling to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for a trio of games. The Hoyas will take on Wake Forest on Friday at 4 p.m., before playing neutral-site matchups against Gardner-Webb on Saturday (4 p.m.) and Navy on Sunday (10 a.m.). All three games will be played at Wake Forest's David F. Couch Ballpark.

Live stats for each game will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.

Georgetown is coming off of a 2017 season in which it finished with a 27-28 overall record, tying for the third most wins in program history and reaching the 25-win plateau for the fourth time in the past five years. The 27 wins were also the most by a Georgetown team since 1985. Three Hoyas earned All-BIG EAST postseason honors, including second team selections by senior outfielder Michael DeRenzi (Mendham, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) and junior third baseman Ryan Weisenberg (Parkland, Fla./San Ramon Valley [Calif.]).

The Blue & Gray looks to build off of its 27 wins from a season ago with a 2018 roster that features a strong mix of newcomers and returners. The Hoyas will have depth and athleticism at the infield and outfield positions, while looking to veteran leadership in the starting rotation and bullpen.

Wake Forest went 43-20 in 2017, finishing a win away from reaching the College World Series last season, falling to the eventual national champions -- Florida. The Demon Deacons are led by the return of junior preseason All-American Johnny Aiello, who batted .328 with 20 home runs and 53 RBIs last season. As a team, Wake Forest batted .308 with 106 home runs and 129 doubles last season, while the pitching staff had a 4.11 team ERA.

Gardner-Webb, which finished 25-30 in 2017, was picked to finish seventh in the Big South this season. The Bulldogs are led by the return of junior Chandler Redmond, who batted .275 with 16 home runs last year and finished second on the 2018 Big South Preseason Player of the Year ballot. Last season, the Gardner-Webb took two-of-three from the Hoyas in Boiling Springs, North Carolina

Navy is coming off of a 37-17 campaign in 2017 and is led by the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year, Logan Knowles, who batted .330 last season with six triples, 14 doubles, 23 RBIs and 56 runs scored. The Midshipmen batted .297 as a team last year, while the pitching staff boasted a modest 3.99 ERA. Georgetown and Navy split a pair of midweek games in 2017, with the Hoyas winning 11-3 in Annapolis, while the Midshipmen took a 6-2 decision at Shirley Povich Field.

Probably Pitching Matchups
Friday (4 p.m.)
Georgetown - RHP Nick Morreale (0-2, 6.51 ERA, 31.1 IP, 29 K, 3 saves)
Wake Forest - RHP Griffin Roberts (2-5, 2.19 ERA, 53.1 IP, 80 K, 8 saves)

Saturday (4 p.m.)
Georgetown - RHP Owen Lamon (N/A)
Gardner-Webb -- LHP Isaac Campbell (1-5, 8.37 ERA, 47.1 IP, 30 K)

Sunday (10 a.m.)
Georgetown - RHP Kevin Superko (6-3, 4.15 ERA, 78 IP, 43 K)
Navy -- RHP Andrew Sauer (2-1, 4.17 ERA, 45.1 IP, 33 K)

Following this weekend's games, the Hoyas will return to North Carolina for a three-game series at Davidson, Feb. 23-25. The Wildcats made a run through the Atlantic 10 playoffs last spring before upending the No. 2 national seed, North Carolina, twice in the NCAA regionals to reach the Super Regionals.