GLENSIDE, Pa. - The Arcadia University baseball program makes its long-awaited return to the diamond at Skip Wilson Field in Saturday's season-opening doubleheader with Wilkes, ending a stretch of 368 days since the Knights last took the field. The Knights' blend of experienced veterans and a host of underclass talent ready to make its mark on the program position Arcadia to make a run at its first MAC Freedom title in 2021.

Related: 2021 Arcadia Baseball Schedule | 2021 Arcadia Baseball Roster

"It's been a long road getting back on the field, but I give our players credit for the way they have attacked every day," head coach Bryan Torresani said, who enters his fifth season leading the Knights. "The coaching staff is excited about this ball club; we believe we have the pieces in place to compete at a higher level."
 

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The Knights look to fifth-year senior pitcher Jeremy Sabthne and junior left-hander Luke Fournier to anchor a young but promising pitching staff heading into 2021. Sabathne has made 29 starts of his 40 career appearances while logging just under 170 innings of work, while Fournier looks to step into an expanded role on the mound after pitching primarily in relief over the last two seasons.

Arcadia will also look to junior right-handers Owen Margolis and Colin Bowdish and sophomore right-hander Zach Steiger to be at the forefront of the bullpen - a group that allowed only five earned runs over 11 and two-thirds combined innings during the shortened 2020 season.

Offensively, Arcadia returns a majority of its starting nine from a season ago and keeps most of its infield alignment intact led by senior first baseman Trevor Mattson. Sophomores Alex Madera and Justin Massielo aim to take the next step in their development anchoring the middle infield while first-year Emilio Pallante looks to solidify the Arcadia infield at third base. Additionally, junior Connor Cheeseman will aim to immediately impact the middle of the lineup offensively in his first season in Glenside.

The outfield unit of Zachary Sekelick, Trey Obarwoski, and Ryan Smolen will get their first full season together while continuing to increase offensive production from all throughout the order. The trio ranked in the top-five in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS among all returners this season.

The Knights' 2021 schedule currently features doubleheaders on Saturdays and Sundays - with the exception of the Misericordia series (April 2-3) - against the same MAC Freedom opponent on both days of the weekend through April 25. The 2021 MAC Freedom Tournament is scheduled to begin May 1 and conclude on May 16.