![]() ![]() That’s quite a few talented pitchers to replace but Southern Miss and pitching coach Christian Ostrander have proven adept at unearthing top arms. ![]() Hall is an experienced arm and will need to shoulder a heavy burden with Hunter Riggins, Hurston Waldrep (Florida), Ben Ethridge, Dalton Rogers and Landon Harper out the door. That offense alone is enough to consider the Golden Eagles in the driver’s seat, but it helps when you can count on All-American Tanner Hall (9-3, 2.81) to lead your rotation. Newcomers include second baseman Gabe Lacy (.329/.401/.540), who clubbed 12 home runs at Tennessee Tech, and Matt Etzel, a prolific junior college transfer from Panola (Texas). That’s not to mention two of the more consistent hitters in infielders Dustin Dickerson (.320/.397/.409), who racked up 24 doubles, and Danny Lynch (.286/.375/.408). First baseman Christopher Sargent (.269/.312/.545, 21 HRs) and right fielder Carson Paetow (.271/.383/.546, 16 HR) make up a formidable power duo, while DH Slade Wilks (.288/.394/.511, 10 HR) and left fielder Reece Ewing (.260/.430/.480, 10 HR) both hit double-digit homers as well. While the Golden Eagles will miss Gabriel Montenegro and Will McGillis, they have to feel good about where their lineup sits with seven returnees. Southern Miss piled up six straight seasons of 40-plus wins and figures to do so again in 2023 with a lineup chock full of returnees, a potential pitcher of the year and a deep pitching staff. The Golden Eagles have made six straight NCAA Tournament appearances and now arrive in a new conference as the favorites. If the 6-foot-1 righthander can showcase that ability-and potentially break into the weekend rotation - he could be well on his way to a bright future on draft boards. Clocked up to 95 mph with a cutter and a slider during the school’s fall world series, Harris will have an opportunity to make an impact in an unsettled Eagles rotation. Hall doesn’t have overpowering stuff, sitting in the low 90s, but boasts a strong changeup and slider combination that worked wonders last year.įreshman of the Year: Ethan Harris, RHP, Georgia Southern: While four of the last five Sun Belt freshman of the year have been hitters, the previous three before that were pitchers-and that’s where the hard-throwing Harris fits in. He collected Conference USA pitcher of the year honors as a result and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him claim the same honor in a new conference. After spending his freshman year in the bullpen, Hall transitioned to the rotation and dazzled, going 9-3, 2.81 across 109 innings with a gaudy 146:14 K/BB ratio. ![]() Pitcher of the Year: Tanner Hall, RHP, Southern Miss: If you want to talk about absurd control numbers, Hall, a junior righthander for the Golden Eagles, is your guy. It all sets up for a prolific junior campaign as he looks to help the Cajuns back to regionals. He added power without sacrificing any speed, slugging 16 home runs and swiping 25 bases with a. 274/.351/.419 in 49 games with four home runs and 14 stolen bases-a strong debut-but only improved on it as a sophomore. Player of the Year: Carson Roccaforte, 1B, Louisiana: With a smooth lefthanded swing, Roccaforte has only gotten better offensively in his two years with the Rajun’ Cajuns. While Southern Miss slots in as the favorite, the likes of Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina and Louisiana are not to be undervalued. The Sun Belt now numbers 14 teams, five coming off of NCAA berths, and figures to be especially competitive with nine teams that cleared the 30-win mark last season. ![]() At the same time, Arkansas-Little Rock left for the Ohio Valley Conference and Texas-Arlington moved to the Western Athletic Conference. 11 national seed and fell to eventual national champion Mississippi in the super regionals, while Marshall and Old Dominion also join from Conference USA and James Madison moves over from the Colonial Athletic Association. The biggest addition is undoubtedly Southern Miss, which last year was the No. That set the stage for four additions-and two departures-to a conference that finished No. While all four bowed out in regionals, each registered at least one win while Texas State and Coastal Carolina pushed top-eight seeds Stanford and East Carolina to the brink in regional finals. 16 national seed Georgia Southern alongside Texas State, Coastal Carolina and Louisiana-Lafayette. It sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, including No. Tanner Hall (Tracy Proffitt/Four Seam Images)įor a conference that underwent quite a bit of change in the offseason, 2022 was a terrific season for the Sun Belt. ![]()
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