CU baseball packs punch at the plate

The Columbia pitching staff is unquestionably responsible for the team’s success in the opening weekend of Ivy League play. But while the pitchers—who were the major question mark coming into the season—deserve their credit, the offense quietly raised its team average another 15 points.

The Lions are currently hitting .297 as a team, with a chance to roll over the .300 hump this week against Rutgers, Dartmouth and Harvard. The team displayed its ability to scratch out runs against tough pitching staffs last weekend when it posted no less than five runs per game against Yale’s above-average hurlers.

In fact, the Lions have scored five or more runs in every single game dating back to March 19, when they suffered a 5-2 loss to Kent State. The offense has certainly taken pressure off of the pitchers, allowing them to cough up some runs without losing games. Run support will become increasingly important over the next month, when the pitching staff will undoubtedly have its ups and downs.

What is most intriguing about Columbia’s offense is that the team is being led by four players, some of whom are unexpected performers. At this point, Jon Eisen, Alex Aurrichio, Dean Forthun, and Nick Ferraresi are all hitting above .300.

Veteran catcher Dean Forthun is putting up impressive numbers from behind the plate. The senior leads all veteran players with a .323 batting average, but his most important contribution comes from his batter’s eye. Forthun has taken 16 walks this season—second-most on the squad—and leads the team with a .483 on-base percentage. The veteran backstop has always been a good hitter, but his .323 average and 16 walks (his highest season total is just 17) are added bonuses as he inches towards graduation.

A young crop of stars, consisting of freshman Nick Ferraresi and sophomores Alex Aurrichio and Jon Eisen, leads the rest of the Columbia offense.

Eisen had a breakout season last year (.331 average), so his success in 2010 is no surprise. But the infielder is hitting for an outstanding .388 average, with 33 hits in 23 games so far. With just five of those hits going for extra bases, Eisen is proving to be a very natural hitter who is frequently on base for his teammates to drive him in. Eisen has scored 23 runs this year, well above the rest of his teammates.

Ferraresi has already earned a lot of ink in this publication. The Wellington, Fla., native is an early Rookie of the Year candidate with a .305 batting average and fifteen extra-base hits. Ferraresi has shown his ability to be a gap hitter, far surpassing his closest teammates with 11 doubles. The outfielder could be a little more patient at the plate, but his 21 RBIs—he is second on the team—are a sign that Ferraresi could become a staple in the middle part of Columbia’s lineup over the next three-and-a-half seasons.

But designated hitter Alex Aurrichio is truly putting the “designated” in DH. The sophomore is potentially the best all-around hitter on the team so far. Aurrichio is boasting a .380 average to go along with stellar power numbers. The 6’6” DH has smacked seven homers, five doubles, and a triple to lead the team with a .775 slugging percentage. Aurrichio has also knocked in a team-high 22 runs. Although he is tied for the Columbia lead in strikeouts, when Aurrichio gets his bat on the ball, the results are usually enough to make head coach Brett Boretti smile.

The Lions are enjoying the talent of several star offensive players, but the overall production has truly been a team effort. Every Columbia starter, with the exception of Jason Banos, is hitting above the .275 mark. And even in the Ivy League—where batting averages tend to be slightly inflated—that feat is impressive.

Banos has struggled this season as he tries to return from an injury, but the junior has still contributed 17 RBI. The outfielder’s numbers may not look as impressive at the end of the season, but Banos still has the time and the capability to produce in the second half of the campaign.

Baseball championships are often decided by pitching, and the old adage doesn’t appear to be incorrect in analyzing this year’s Ivy League season. But if the Lions’ offense can remain hot, the pressure will remain on their opponents’ pitchers, and not on their own.