WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University baseball team opens the season on Feb. 16 when it travels to Wake Forest University. As the first pitch of the 2018 campaign draws closer, GUHoyas.com will take an in-depth look at each of the team's position groups. This edition looks at the infield positions ââ'¬" first base, second base, shortstop and third base.

"We have a nice blend of rookies and returners at our infield positions," said Assistant Coach Ryan Wood, who works with the team's infielders. "We bring back starters at three of the four slots and have a strong battle between a couple of freshmen at the other. All four positions have a strong amount of depth and anyone could slide in when called upon and make an immediate impact."

At first base, senior Alex Bernauer (Sunnyvale, Calif./Fremont) took over the starting role last season after he returned from an injury that sidelined him at the beginning of the season. He came back to bat .272 (34-for-125) with a triple and five doubles in 37 games, making 35 starts at first. He made just two errors in 309 chances for a .994 fielding percentage.

Fellow senior Bennett Stehr (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) and sophomore Freddy Achecar III (Atlanta, Ga./Lovett School) will fight for playing time behind Bernauer. Stehr appeared in four games in 2017, hitting an RBI double in four at-bats. Achecar got into 14 games as a freshman, hitting a double and driving in two RBIs in 12 at-bats.

Senior Jake Bernstein (Frederick, Md./St. John's College HS) returns as Georgetown's starting second baseman after appearing in all but one game last season with 53 starts. He finished fourth on the team with a .290 (63-for-217) batting average while hitting a home run, knocking in 23 RBIs and stealing five bases, good for third on the team. Freshman Yareb Martinez (Aldie, Va./John Champe) will serve as depth behind Bernstein in his first season on the Hilltop.

The Hoyas will look to a pair of freshmen at shortstop as Martinez and Eddie McCabe (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) will compete for playing time. Sophomore Ryan M. Davis (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley), who hit .174 (19-for-109) with a home run and three doubles in 33 games with 26 starts at shortstop and second base last season, will transition to the outfield in 2018 but will also provide depth at both middle infield positions.

At third base, junior Ryan Weisenberg (Parkland, Fla./San Ramon Valley [Calif.]) returns as one of the Blue & Gray's biggest power threats, having led the team with six home runs last season. He batted .265 (31-for-117) with 25 RBIs and was in 45 games. Sophomore John Simourian (Andover, Mass./Phillips Andover), who moved from catcher to the hot corner as a freshman in 2017, will battle Weiseberg for playing time at third base. Simourian batted .280 (21-for-75) last year, walking 11 times and scoring 13 runs. Martinez will provide additional depth at third as well.