GLENSIDE - After finishing second in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) and advancing to its regional final, the Arcadia University baseball team will look to return to th conference summit when it begins the 2025 season. The Knights begin the 2025 season receiving 49 votes in the D3baseball.com/NCBWA Preseason Top 25.

Head coach Chuck Thielmann enters his second season as the Knights' leader after guiding the team to its third-straight 30-win season in 2024. 

"Our expectations remain pretty much unchanged," explained Thielmann. "Obviously we expect to compete for a conference championship and hope to be in a regional again."

At the plate, the Knights are led by Fourth Team All-American Anthony Bruno after he led the nation in RBI's a season ago.

Behind the plate, Arcadia returns Griffin Murphy and Peter Trendafilov. The Knights also brought in transfers Cam Seymour and Nick Yedman, and first-year Joshua Agriesti. In Seymour, Arcadia welcomes a Rawlings/ABCA Second Team All-American, First Team All-Region, Region Rookie of the Year, and Conference Rookie of the Year.

On the infield, the Knights return Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom shortstop Gabe Diaz. The other three spots will be filed through competition after Arcadia lost a wealth of experience, with returners Thomas Strauch, Solomon Abdullah, Eric Shandler, looking to take a spot, as will First Team All-MAC Freedom utility selection Kevin Wheeler. Newcomers joining the group include transfer Max Oswald and first-years Ryan Radigan and Derek Rivera.

In the outfield, Wheeler returns after spending most of last season in centerfield. Noah Stennett and Solomon Abdullah return after making a handful of appearances, and will be joined by transfer Jake Hendershot, an Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom selection from FDU-Florham. 

On the mound, Will Conroy leads the way after being named Third Team All-Region IV by Rawlings/ABCA and Second Team All-MAC Freedom. Cam Nebel will look to lead the relief unit after notching seven saves a year ago. Returners include Vinny Versaci, Xavier Sjostedt, Patrick Dougherty, Jadon Dormer, Sage Goeke, Gabe Marshall, Michael McCullagh, Gavin Kincs, Jack Dovidio, Sean Ahrens, Luke Hinkle, and Nick Draben. Newcomers include transfers Mitchell Bramsway, Anthony Rosario, and Carter Oviatt, and first-years Jeremy Coccia, Dylan Rasco, Evit Dwyer, Joey Elmes, Teddy Meade, Braden Kelly, Taro Pustilnik, Myles McNiff, and Andrew Tyszka.

"The MAC Freedom is a conference that just continues to get better from the bottom to the top," expressed Thielmann. "When you talk about being able to get into that regional, I think it has a lot to do with the type of conference you're in. Being able to be one of those top conferences in the country says a lot when it comes down to it." 

Arcadia, who was picked to finish second in the MAC Freedom Coaches Preseason Poll, kick off the 2025 season on Friday when it travels to Kean with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. MAC Freedom play begins March 14th at Misericordia at 3:30 p.m., while the conference tournament is slated to begin May 2nd at the two highest seeds.