Baseball

HCAC 2026 Baseball Notebook, Week 9

CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) baseball teams competed in week nine of the 2026 season.
 
Around the League:
HCAC Baseball Schedule

Athletes of the Week:
Player of the Week:
Ethan Dillon (Louisville, Ky.) Transylvania University | Outfield | Sophomore - Ethan Dillon had a dominant showing at the plate in a pair of wins over Franklin. In an 11–1 victory, Dillon went 2-for-3 with two home runs, six RBIs, and a walk. He followed with another strong performance in a 21–11 win, going 3-for-4 with four runs scored, two RBIs, two walks, and two stolen bases, impacting the game in multiple ways.

Pitcher of the Week:
Drew Bowles (Lexington, Ky.) Transylvania University | Pitcher | Junior - Drew Bowles delivered another dominant performance on the mound, tossing 7.0 innings while striking out 12 and allowing just five hits and one earned run. He continues to lead the conference with a 1.77 ERA.

Notable Performances:
  • Jon Dorsch (Noblesville, Ind.) Anderson University | Outfield | Senior - Jon Dorsch produced two homers, a double and 4 RBI during Sunday's doubleheader with Earlham. Dorsch went 3-for-8 with a 1.250 slugging percentage and a .375 batting average.
  • Braden Richey (Seymour, Ind.) Anderson University | Pitcher | First Year - Braden Richey allowed 2 runs in 7 innings in a no decision with Earlham. He struck out 4 batters, issued 3 walks and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits in 7 innings. He recorded a 2.57 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
  • Sebastian Roman (Aguadillas, Puerto Rico) Berea College | Infield | Sophomore - Roman had a batting average of .666 (4 for 6) with OBP .750, 5 RBIs, DBL, SB, Run.
  • Jake McCoy (Milford, Ohio) Bluffton University | Outfield | Sophomore - McCoy has been on a tear since re-joining the lineup. He hit .583 with seven hits, two runs scored, a triple and a double this week. McCoy slugged .833 and finished the week with a .688 on-base percentage thanks to three free passes.
  • Jayce Emmitt (Columbus, Ind.) Bluffton University | Pitcher | First Year - Emmitt worked 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits, while holding the opposition to a paltry .222 batting average.
  • Sean Jefferies (Gilbert, Ariz.) Earlham College | Infield | Senior - Sean Jeffries tied the program record with with 12th career triple against Wabash on Tuesday. The senior hit .455 (5-11) in the 2-1 week. Jeffries drove in seven runs, and scored three more as the Quakers improved to 20-9 on the season. Across 13 plate appearances, Jeffries did not strike out a single time this week, and stole one base. 
  • Cayman Huntsman (Lebanon, Ind.) Earlham College | Pitcher | Junior - Cayman Huntsman pitched the win for the Quakers in a 7-4 win at Anderson. The junior went eight innings with three earned runs allowed on six hits. Huntsman struck out seven batters with just one walk. 
  • Josh Girvan (Zionsville, Ind.) Franklin College | Second Base/Shortstop | Sophomore - Girvan provided an offensive spark for the Grizzlies, going 6 for 17 with four runs scored and six batted in. He hit his first career home run to help Franklin pick up a doubleheader sweep of Rose-Hulman, and he also stole four bases to extend his margin atop the school's career leaderboard.
  • Will Rodriguez (Deland, Fla.) Hanover College | Pitcher | Senior - Rodriguez led the Panthers as he got the game one start against Berea claiming the win. He pitched seven complete innings with seven strikeouts and only two earned runs. He finished the weekend with a 2.57 ERA.
  • Kadin Bush (New Albany, Ind.) Hanover College | Infield | First Year - Bush led the Panthers to a sweep of Berea going 2-for-4 at the plate with six RBI and a grand slam. He also added a triple and a run scored. He finished the weekend with a 1.750 slugging percentage. 
  • Collin Bailey (Shepherdsville, Ky.) Manchester University | Designated Hitter | First Year - Collin Bailey provided a spark in game two on Sunday. Bailey went 3/4 at the plate and scored one run. 
  • Ty Layson (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Manchester University | Pitcher | Senior - Ty Layson started game one for Manchester on Sunday, earning the win with 6.1 innings pitched, three earned runs, and four strikeouts.
  • Ethan Mason (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Shortstop | Senior - MSJ Shortstop Ethan Mason led the Mount to a 3-1 weekend in HCAC play, with a sweep over Bluffton and a split with Manchester. For the week he was 9-for-22 (.409), driving in seven runs, with 4 runs scored, a stolen base, a walk and two hit-by-pitches. 
  • Nolan Miller (Cincinnati, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Pitcher | Junior - Lions junior right hander led the Mount to a 3-2 win at Bluffton on Friday. Miller threw a complete game allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out six in the win. 
  • Mason Rasmussen (Lake Barrington, Ill.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Catcher | Senior - The Fightin' Engineers recorded a 3-2 mark on the week with a win over Blackburn and two wins against Bluffton. Throughout the week, Mason recorded a .421 batting average (8-19) with eight runs, three doubles, and five RBIs. He scored two or more runs in three consecutive games, while also recording one double in three straight games.
  • Brad Nardi (Avon, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Pitcher | Junior - Brad Nardi opened the week by striking out three batters in 2.0 innings without giving up a hit in Rose-Hulman's 20-4 win over Blackburn. He followed that up by recording a career-high seven strikeouts in six innings, while allowing just two hits in a 9-0 win over Bluffton. He finished the week with 10 strikeouts in eight innings, while allowing just two hits and no runs.
Looking Forward:
HCAC Baseball Standings