March 28, 2008

Fort Wayne, IN - This week's NCAA Division I baseball statistics feature a number of high ranked Mastodons.

Junior infielder Chris Gottschall leads the IPFW contingent with a ranking of 9th nationally in batting average at .486.  Gottschall has missed the last five Mastodon games with a leg injury but is hopeful to return to action in IPFW's Summit League series opener at Southern Utah on April 3.  Gottschall is also ranked 50th in the country in slugging percentage at .757 and 52nd in on-base percentage at .524.

Junior left handed starter Brandon Knowling is ranked 12th in the country in ERA, giving up just 1.11 earned runs a game.  Knowling, who is 2-0 so far this year for IPFW, is also ranked 63rd in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings at 6.3

Junior catcher Devin Taylor is 8th in the country in sacrifice bunts per game at 0.38 and 11 in the nation in total sacrifice bunts with 11.

Senior right handed starter Cole Uebelhor shows up at No. 16 in D-I in walks allowed per nine innings at 0.86.

As a team, the Mastodons rank 12th in the nation in double plays turned per game at 1.25.  They are 40th overall in double plays turned with 20 on the season.

IPFW, which has not played a home game yet so far in 2008, will have to wait a while before opening at Mastodons Field.

This weekend's three-game series with Long Island University was shelved because of weather.

Again, the 'Dons will open the Summit League portion of the schedule on the road at Southern Utah on April 3.

Following that series, the Mastodons will play their first home contest on April 8 vs. Ball State University.