Resilience, Trust Fueling Historic Start for EC Baseball

EUREKA – The Eureka baseball team is on fire.  

Heading into April, the Red Devils are riding an eight-game winning streak and hold a 13-7 record through 20 games.

That's the team's best record through 20 games in the modern history of the program. And, more importantly, Eureka is 6-0 in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play and tied with Spalding (14-9, 6-0 SLIAC) for first in the SLIAC standings.

Over the weekend, the Red Devils pulled off a three-game road sweep over Principia – winning two SLIAC contests and a non-conference contest – to cement the program's best start to conference play in the team's 18 seasons of competing in the SLIAC.

"I'm thrilled at our start thus far," first-year EC coach Noah Suarez said. "We have a really good ball club, and when we piece everything together, we are a tough team to beat.

"I 100-percent attribute this start to our team's culture. The guys have completely bought in, and we are seeing a brand-new Eureka baseball team."

The team's flair for the dramatic has been well-documented. During a 10-day span, the Red Devils notched four walk-off victories, with each one coming in a new way.

To recap: Chase Ulrich (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria/Illinois Central College) went up the middle with a bases-loaded single to clinch an 8-7 win over Illinois College on March 17. Gabe Peters (Washington, Ill./Washington Community/Mount Mercy) drove home the winning run after EC tied it up in the ninth to lock up a 10-9 win over Blackburn on March 23 in Game 1, and Sam Buduris (Shorewood, Ill./Minooka Community/McKendree) hammered a three-run walk-off bomb in the 10th inning to seize a sweep over the Beavers in Game 2.

Last Wednesday, Eureka went into the bottom of the ninth against Fontbonne trailing by one and ended up getting two on and scoring two runs on an untimely passed ball and a throwing error to tally a 4-3 win over Fontbonne.

Then, most recently, the Red Devils battled their way into extra innings and bested Principia 9-7 in 12 innings on Saturday.

A pattern has held through it all: When the Red Devils have their backs against the wall and need someone to spring new life, there's always someone ready to step up.

"We are practicing at such an intense level that we are geared up for these big-time pressure situations," Suarez said. "The guys trust each other, and they believe in themselves to get the job done."

The Red Devils have had standout moments in the field and on the mound this spring, but they have been particularly impressive at the plate. The team currently has a .309 batting average and a .449 slugging percentage. It has produced 13 home runs – putting it on pace to break last year's squad's single-season modern-era program record of 25 – and 54 extra-base hits.

Buduris, a two-time SLIAC Hitter of the Week this season, has been producing at an unprecedented level. He's currently hitting .444 (second in the SLIAC) while leading the league with an .806 slugging percentage and a 1.324 OPS. Buduris, who is currently 58th in batting average in all of NCAA Division III, also leads the league in runs scored (30) and is second in RBI (27), doubles (eight), triples (three).

He is one of six regulars in the batting order who is hitting over .300. The other six are Mike Dunne (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone/Lincoln Land), Garrett Flaagan (Eagle, Colo. Eagle Valley/ Williston State), Cole Tanner (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone/Knox), Peters, and Hayden McKenna (Sheridan, Ill./Marquette Academy).

Dunne, a junior pitcher/designated hitter, has racked up 16 RBI, 14 hits, three doubles and two home runs. His 519 on-base percentage ranks third in the SLIAC, and he holds a 3.19 ERA with a team-high 37 strikeouts in 31 innings on the hill.

Flaagan, a sophomore shortstop, has taken a massive leap in his second season in maroon and gold, going from batting .186 in 70 at-bats last season to .353 with 18 hits, five doubles, a triple and a home run. He currently leads the team with 15 walks and the league with a .528 on-base percentage.

Tanner, a senior center fielder and leadoff hitter, is batting .329. Peters, a freshman second baseman, follows at .321, and McKenna, a sophomore catcher, is at .308.

The Red Devils' pitching hasn't been as consistent as their sizzling hitting, but there have been a handful of clutch performances along the way.

Nick Rulevish (Addieville, Ill./Okawville), who led the team with a .353 batting average last season, has been a revelation on the mound this spring. The junior was a minor contributor to the pitching staff as a freshman and didn't pitch at all as a sophomore. Now, he's a go-to reliever, leading the team with four wins and has a 2.87 ERA in 15 2/3 innings.

Sophomore transfer Brayden Williams (Chouteau, Okla./Poteau/Bacone), returning senior Dominic Tenayuca (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Jacobs/Lincoln), junior transfer Colton Yanish (LaSalle-Peru, Ill./LaSalle-Peru Township/Illinois Valley) and Ulrich and have been some of the other major contributors in the pitching staff this year.

Heading into the second half of the season, the Red Devils are motivated by the opportunity to continue to make program history and reach the 20-win mark for the first time in the program's modern era.

 "That's what we are chasing every day." Suarez said.

Eureka (13-7, 6-0 SLIAC) continues SLIAC play on Friday with a road doubleheader at the Mississippi University for Women (12-7, 4-2 SLIAC) at 12 p.m.