2015 PalmettoStateBaseball.com preview: USC Upstate

Fifteenth in a series of 2015 season previews for college/junior college baseball programs in South Carolina. I've asked for responses from every school. I'll run all I receive. Some days, I may run more than one. I'll publicize all on Twitter (@palmettobase) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Palmetto-State-Baseball-Blog/92994136001)

Jay D'Abramo, sports information director for USC Upstate baseball, provided the quick facts.

First Year of Program: 1986
Overall All-Time Record: 660-794-1
NCAA Appearances: None
NAIA Appearances: 5

Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Matt Fincher
Alma Mater: Georgia Southern, 1984
Record at School/Years: 390-539/18th season
Overall Record/Years: Same
Assistant Coach: Ethan Guevin (2nd year)
Assistant Coach: Jordan Stampler (1st year)
Head Athletic Trainer: Michael “Sandy” Sandago

Team Information
Overall Record in 2014: 17-38
A-Sun Record/Finish: 12-18/9th
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/5
Pitchers Returning/Lost: 12/7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 16/11
Newcomers: 16

Returning Starters
Hitters (4)           Cl. Pos. B/T   BA  AB  R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB
Stephen Dowling Sr. OF    R/R  .240 183 16 44   8   2   1    25    14   1-1
Daniel Fickas      So. INF   R/R  .210 138 12 29   3   0   0    5     12   1-1
Zach Krider         So. INF   R/R  .255 196 23 50   8   1   2   26    15   0-1
Erik Samples       Sr.  INF   R/R  .294 201 27 59 17   2   2   33    16   2-2
Pitchers (4)         Cl. T  ERA W-L App GS SV  IP    H   R  ER SO BB
Eric Birklund       So. R  7.97   1-8    17    11    0   49.2  76  47  44  25  32
Zac Manuppelli   So. R  5.83   3-6    18      9    0   58.2  86  46  38  29  25
Zach Mitchell      So. R  5.77   1-4    17     7     0   43.2  86  34  28  28  27
Dylan Parker       Sr.  R   5.35   2-5    15   12    0   77.1 102 51  46  51  16

Other Key Returnees
Hitters (2)          Cl.  Pos. B/T  BA AB  R  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB
Sam Kysor          So. OF   L/R  .159  44   2   7    0   0     0     5      6   1-1
Jordan Miller      So.   C    R/R  .220  41   4   9   1   0     0     2      9  0-0
Pitchers (6)           Cl.  T  ERA  W-L  G  SV  IP   H    R   ER  SO  BB
Brian Boocock       So. R   6.60   0-1    11   0  15.0  25  16    11     9    6
Bryan Hathaway    So. R   6.35   1-0    11   0  17.0  25   13   12    12   7
Richie Lacell         So. R   7.66    0-2    12   0  24.2  29   23   21    18  17
Jordan Miller         So. R   6.10    0-1    17   1  20.2  29   17   14    13   4
Erik Samples         So. R   1.71    5-3    14   2  21.0  19    7     4     2   10
Tresco Shannon     Sr.  R   8.65    2-1    15   0  26.0  40  28   25  16   12

Key Losses
Hitters (5)             Pos.   BA   AB   R   H    2B   3B   HR  RBI   BB  SB
Tyler Lesch            OF      .313   230   35  72    11   2      1       25      29   10-16
AJ Mackey            INF     .246   118   20  29     3    0      1       17      19    1-1
Daniel Seeba         INF     .256   160   23  41     9    1      1       10      20    2-4
Brian Thompson   INF     .230   122   14  28     2    0      0        9       13    3-3
Luke Weber          C         .257   206   26  53    12    0     3      30       22    0-0
Pitchers (2)              T.  ERA W-L App  GS  SV   IP     H    R   ER   SO  BB
David Roseboom      L    4.89   2-7   13   13    0   81.0   111  64  44    55   22
Daniel Seeba             R   8.49   0-0   11     0    3   11.2    23   13  11     8    1

Key Newcomers
No. Player Cl.           Pos. B/T Hometown/Previous School
9 J.J. Shimko Fr.        OF L/L Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS
11 Jake Beaver Jr.      INF L/R Mooresville, N.C./Wake Tech CC
15 James Fowlkes Jr. OF R/R Soddy Daisy, Tenn./Walters State CC
18 Cody Brittain Jr.   RHP R/R White Hall, Md./Haford CC
22 Tyler Jackson Jr.   RHP R/R Piedmont, S.C./USC Lancaster
27 Tanner Petrey Jr.   RHP R/R West Columbia, S.C./USC Lancaster
30 Brad Emery Jr.      LHP L/L Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Daytona State

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