IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine baseball team is getting ready to kick off the 2025 season and is picked to finish third for the second consecutive year in the PacWest preseason poll.
The NCBWA West Region voted Concordia No. 8 in the Preseason All-Region Poll. Point Loma and Westmont are projected to finish at the top of the PacWest conference and above CUI in the NCBWA.
The Golden Eagles have lost some key players that helped them into the PacWest Championship but have multiple players transferring in that will be on the mound.
Starting pitcher
Jake Covey is returning for his senior year. The senior received many accolades last year including PacWest Co-Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. He was also recognized with NCBWA and ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) so it is no surprise that he has been named D2 baseball Preseason All-American First Team.
The Costa Mesa, Calif. native was also named to the NCBWA Preseason All-West Region team. In 2024 he recorded an impressive 1.94 ERA along with five complete games and two of those being shutouts. He finished the season with a 7-2 record and pitched 74.1 innings only allowing 56 hits, 23 runs, and 16 earned runs. The Golden Eagle only walked 19 players while striking out a whopping 89.
The Green and Gold have other returners such as
Wyatt Madison who can pitch and swing a bat from the plate.
Owen Gott,
Isaiah Walz, and
Haku Dudoit are a few key contributors that are back for more this upcoming season.
Matthew Kaiser,
Conor Meehan, and
Josh Pugh are some of the pitchers that will be on the mound again for CUI.
Five new freshman join the roster this spring as well.
Nathan Hunter is the sole freshman pitcher while
Nolan Caira and
Mason Overacker are listed as outfielders.
Carter Vanderhook is an infielder and
Christian Garcia is a catcher.
The Golden Eagles will start their season with a series against Cal State Dominguez Hills. CUI will be in Carson, Calif. on Thursday Feb. 6 and Friday Feb. 7 with start times at 1 p.m. The Golden Eagles will finish the series at the Golden Eagles Field Saturday Feb. 8 with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
Click here to see the full CUI baseball schedule.
