The Purdue Northwest baseball team looks to build on a 2018 season that saw the Pride win 18 games and saw several players grabbing individual accolades, including freshman pitcher Kyle Freel was named GLIAC Freshman Pitcher of the year. Freel led the Black and Gold in wins (5) and innings pitched (51.2) and had the second most strikeouts on the team with 38. Head coach Dave Griffin returns for his third season at Purdue Northwest, and his sixth overall on the Calumet campus. 

 

Junior Hunter Thorn, who led PNW in hitting and slugging percentage, along with hits last season, returns to lead a Pride offense that put up just under four and a half runs per game. Thorn was also named an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention. Austin Kordik also returns for his senior season, after playing in all 43 games a year ago and finishing second on the team with 44 hits. Sophomore Kevin McCune, who was the team leader in home runs last season, will be back and providing some much-needed power in the lineup. Outfielder Alex Batistatos hit .306 last season in his sophomore campaign and finished second on the team in RBI.

 

On the mound, the Pride have some big-time arms returning to Hammond. Kyle Freel is the most notable name on the staff, as he paced the Pride with five wins and was also named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team. Senior Joe Davi led the Pride with six saves in 2018 and will once again be counted on to provide innings out of the bullpen. Chad Patrick also returns to PNW after leading the team in strikeouts with 39.