USAO 2025 Season Preview

It is hard to believe, but the 2025 college baseball season is less than a month away for several of our squads here in the Sooner State.

Over the next several weeks leading up to the season we will be looking a some of our teams on the college level. Recently we sent out a questionnaire to the head coaches of each squad from the NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA, and NJCAA levels asking about their returning players and incoming players as well as their thoughts about their strengths and “opportunities” heading into the 2025 season.

Let’s take a look at a team with high expectations for the 2025 season at the NAIA level: University of Science and Arts Oklahoma (USAO) Drovers.

2024 Recap

USAO was once again a power in the always tough Sooner Athletic Conference going 17-7 and finishing in a tie for 2nd with rival, OCU. The Drovers finished 36-18 overall and earned their 8th consecutive trip to the NAIA Opening Round where they finished in the final to Southeastern (FL).

The Drovers were a juggernaut at the plate in 2024 as they led the SAC in AVG (.327), OBP (.418), and SLG (.521). They were 2nd in HRs at 65 as a team as well as 2nd in RBIs (they were one of only two teams to have more than 307 RBIs on the season with 395).

On the mound, the Droves finished 2nd in the SAC in team ERA with 5.79. While USAO were the 3rd worst in the SAC in hits allowed, they gave up the fewest walks and were 4th in the number of strike outs.

Team Basics

Official name: University of Science and Arts Oklahoma Drovers
Level: NAIA
Location: Chickasha, OK
Conference: Sooner Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Tyle Hankins (4th year as HC at USAO and 4th year overall)

2024 Team Statistics

Batting
– Games: 52, .327/.418/.521, 65 HR, 395 RBI, 557 H, 111 2B, 12 3B, 238 BB, 306 SO

Pitching
– Games: 52, 34-18, 9 SV, 399.2 IP, 1.49 WHIP, 457H, 138 BB, 374 SO

Returners

Position Players

Devin Alvarez (SS): 2024: .292/.388/.487, 4 HR, 32 RBI – outstanding defensively, looking for more from the plate in 2025
Ben Bach (3B): 2024: .322/.451./.559, 10 HR, 45 RBI – SAC Newcomer of the Year/All SAC 1st Team/SAC Gold Glove
Gunnar Hansen (C): 2024: .293/.363/.457, 4 HR, 33 RBI – All SAC 2nd Team
Christopher Martinez (DH): 2024: .374/.468/.687, 14 HR, 63 RBI – All SAC 2nd Team
Peyton McDowell (1B): 2024: .355/.477/.738, 17 HR, 58 RBI – All SAC 1st Team
Gage Ninness (LF): 2024: .359/.426/.486, 3 HR 42 RBI – All SAC 1st Team
Ian Ortiz (2B): 2024: .330/.395/.463, 5 HR, 42 RBI – Team leader looking to build on strong 2024 season in 2025

Pitchers

Brian Ereu: 2024: G 18/GS 18, 12-2, 2 CG, 4.69 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 86.1 IP, 94 H, 23 BB, 89 K – All SAC 1st Team; NAIA All American 3rd Team
Kyler Denton: 2024: G 16/GS 11, 9-1, 3.59 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 67.2 IP, 70 H, 17 BB, 43 K – All SAC 2nd Team
Ryan Cullinane: 2024: G 17/GS 4, 1-5, 3 SV, 5.07, 1.23 WHIP, 49.2 IP, 47 H, 14 BB, 62 K – Could be one of the better arm out of the bullpen in the SAC
Nate Herchock: 2024: G 14, 0-1, 7.80 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 15 IP, 15 H, 4 BB, 19 K – Looking to make a big jump in 2025
Rob Schmidt: 2024: G 20, 0-3, 5 SV, 1.80 ERA, .80 WHIP, 25 IP, 12 H, 8 BB , 22 K – All SAC 2nd Team
Jared Adams: 2024: G 14/GS 13, 5-4, 7.04 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 53.2 IP, 74 H, 19 BB, 45 K – Cleaned up some issues and looks to be in rotation again in 2025

Incoming Players

Tyson Noel (LHP), Australia; Previous school: Cochise College
Corey Morro (2B); Previous school: Chattanooga State
Ricky Tequejo (UTL); Previous school: NOC Tonkawa
Jaden Wiley (CF); Previous school: Oklahoma Baptist
Jake Wellington (RHP); Previous school: Oklahoma Baptist
Julian Pokorny (RHP); Previous school: Richland JC

Outlook

It is no secret that USAO is one of the top programs in this part of the country and the entire country. They’ve made the NAIA Opening Round of the national tournament 8 consecutive seasons with a trip to the World Series in 2019.

The Drovers return a ton of talent and production from 2024. They have their entire infield returning anchored by SAC Player of the Year candidate, Peyton McDowell. USAO returns 3 All SAC 1st Team players, 2 All SAC 2nd Team players, the Newcomer of the Year, and a Gold Glove. They could very well be returning the most talented bunch in the SAC from 2024.

Brian Ereu was not only an All SAC 1st Team pitcher last year, he was a 3rd team All American. He and Kyler Denton, who was an All SAC 2nd Team pitcher in 2024, should provide the Drovers a great 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Rob Schmidt is also back after a solid 2024 at back end of the bullpen.

Coach Hankins likes the makeup of this team. The experience and overall depth is a strength and he addressed some of the pitching issues bringing in several arms as newcomers.

Having said that, the Drovers will need improvement on the mound in 2025. If they can get that, then not only a trip back to the NAIA Opening Round would be expected, but possibly moving on farther as well. They got to their Regional’s final before losing to national power, Southeastern.

Look for the Drovers to compete for a SAC Championship (again) and a trip back to the NAIA National Tournament.

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