PHILADELPHIA -- La Salle’s resurgence continues to gather national attention.
The Explorers are now 8–2 to open the season, and given their return to the diamond, they’ve quickly become one of the most compelling early stories in college baseball. This weekend, that story takes a national turn as La Salle heads to No. 11 Clemson for a four-game set — a meaningful trip for head coach David Miller, who returns to face his alma mater.
The surge has been fueled by impact performances on both sides of the ball as the Explorers finished the week with a sweep of Coppin St. following a mid-week loss at Delaware.
Owen MacDonnell earns Pitcher of the Week honors after delivering the most dominant outing of the four-game stretch. On Feb. 27 at Coppin State, the right-hander set the tone with 7.0 innings, 1 earned run, and 8 strikeouts in a 10–2 win. He worked with tempo, attacked early in counts, and provided the kind of depth that steadies a rotation and preserves a bullpen. It was a Friday-starter performance in every sense — efficient, composed, and authoritative.
At the plate, Carter Groen continues to build one of the most productive starts in Division I baseball. Groen went 6-for-16 (.375) during the week and has now hit safely in nine of La Salle’s first 10 games this season. His 17 RBIs are tied for the 11th most in the nation at the Division I level — elite production by any measure. He has consistently delivered in run-producing situations, anchoring an offense that is playing with confidence and pressure.
La Salle’s 8–2 start is no longer a small-sample curiosity. With a national test awaiting in Clemson, the Explorers now carry both momentum and credibility.
The Division I Philadelphia Baseball Review Players of the Week are presented by
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