Orlando, Fla. – Dominican University Baseball travels to Orlando for the annual RussMatt Baseball Invitational.
DU in Review:
-The 2025 season marks the 14th season with Head Coach Steve Hardman at the helm. The Stars finished with a 15-25 record overall and were 7-17 in the NACC.
-DU heads into 2025 looking to make the conference tournament for the first time since 2019.
-As a team last year, the Stars hit with a .292 batting average and a 7.20 team ERA.
-The Stars will play 8 games over an 8 day stretch (Saturday, March 1st to Saturday, March 8th) at the RussMatt Baseball Invitational.
-Dominican went 6-2 at the 2024 RussMatt Baseball Invitational, including two wins over Penn State Altoona, two wins over Russell Sage, and wins over Saint Mary’s Minnesota and Saint Vincent.
Last Time Out:
-The Stars went 2-1 in Conway, Arkansas this past weekend, first falling to New York University 4-11 before defeating Hendrix College twice in as many days (7-5, 6-3).
-Graduate Student Grayson Downing went 7 of 14 from the plate over the weekend, including 3 RBIs, a double, and five stolen bases.
-Junior Niko Krecu was 3 of 10 with 2 RBIs and 3 walks in the three games.
-Senior CJ Kalekas and Freshman Ethan Buckner picked up the wins on the mound for Dominican.
Familiar Faces:
-Dominican returns Graduate Student Grayson Downing after only playing 17 games in his senior year, G. Downing is a lockdown centerfielder that has a career batting average of .363 in his 127 games in a Stars uniform. G. Downing only has 4 errors in his collegiate career with a .990 fielding percentage.
-Senior CJ Kalekas is one of the right fielders and pitcher on the DU roster and returns with a .284 career batting average and a 7.63 career ERA. Kalekas threw 21.2 innings on the mound last season. On the offensive side, Kalekas collected 29 hits and 15 RBI’s.
-Junior Zach Helein is a two-year left fielder for the Stars and has produced a lot in his time in a DU uniform. Helein holds a .300 career batting average with 36 total hits and 18 total RBI’s. Helein does not make mistakes in the outfield with just 3 errors and holds a .966 fielding percentage in left field.
-Senior Matthew Hannafin is returning from injury during his junior year and the Stars are excited to get the 6-2 righty back on the mound. Hannafin holds a 6.05 career ERA with 34 strikeouts through two full seasons of pitching.
-Sophomore Langdon Downing is looking to make a big jump headed to his sophomore year. L. Downing is a 5-11 right-handed pitcher who threw 17.1 innings as a freshman. L.Downing collected 19 strikeouts in his freshman year.
GAME 1
Series History vs. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg:
First Ever Meeting between DU and UPG
Scouting Report vs. University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg:
-University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is 0-1 on the 2025 season.
-The Bobcats fell at Washington and Jefferson College on Monday, February 24th by a final of 5-4.
-UPG opens the RussMatt Invitational with a pair of games against Allegheny College and Carthage College on Friday, February 28th.
GAME 2
Series History vs. Carthage:
First Ever Meeting between DU and Carthage
Scouting Report vs. Carthage:
-Carthage College is 1-1 on the 2025 season.
-The Firebirds fell to Centre College on Saturday, February 22nd 11-1 before defeating Brevard College 17-2 on Sunday, February 23rd.
-CC opens the RussMatt Invitational with a pair of games against Anderson University and University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg on Friday, February 28th.
GAME 3
Series History vs. Saint Vincent:
Dominican and Saint Vincent first played on 3/10/23 in Orlando, Fla (L, 2-6)
All-Time Record / Streak: 1-1 / Dominican W1
Last Meeting (3/7/2024): Dominican 8, Saint Vincent 0
Scouting Report vs. Saint Vincent:
-Saint Vincent will play its first game of the season against Dominican on Sunday, March 2nd.
-The Bearcats finished the 2024 season with an 11-25 record.
GAME 4
Series History vs. University of Dubuque:
First Ever Meeting between DU and University of Dubuque
Scouting Report vs. University of Dubuque:
-The University of Dubuque will open their season at the RussMatt Invitational.
-The Spartans finished the 2024 season with a 24-18 record.
