The Siena Heights baseball team is set to open its season with three games at non-conference opponent Midway this weekend. The four-game series was trimmed to a three-gamer after Friday's single-game was cancelled due to field conditions.

The Saints bring back plenty of offense from a year ago with 78 of last season's 89 extra-base hits accounted for on the 2024 roster.

Thomas Bakoway was SHU's leading thumper in 2023 with four home runs and 10 doubles. Kenny Layman led the squad with a .385 batting average, followed by a pair of other .300 hitters in Cole VanWasshenova (.347) and Matt Love (.302).

The Saints' returners combine for 20 of the 22 homers hit last year. Love, Jacob Jackson and Adam Wilding had three apiece while VanWasshenova and Layman cranked two.

Siena Heights has a pair of WHAC gold glove honorees in the infield: Nick Tiller (2023) and VanWasshenova (2022). The Saints also have a former All-WHAC First Team honoree, Adam Wilding, who received the award in 2021.

In the doubles department, Wilding had nine a year ago. Love and Haydn Smith smacked seven apiece. Tiller was the team-leader in triples with two.

The Saints' top four run producers are back in 2024. Love had 29 RBI while Wilding (24), VanWasshenova (23) and Bakoway (22) topped the 20-RBI mark. VanWasshenova led the Saints in stolen bases with 13.

Starting pitcher Chase Molnar is one of the top returners to SHU's rotation. He led the squad in innings pitched with 65 2/3 last year, finishing with a 5-3 record, 4.66 ERA and 49 strikeouts.

After the weekend trip to Midway, the Saints will be in action again when they make their annual visit to central Florida for 12 games on Mar. 1-9. After that, SHU will open WHAC play with a home doubleheader against Cornerstone on Mar. 15.