Friday, February 13
Davidson, NC
5 p.m.
Davidson College
vs
Bryant
Photo by: Tim Cowie/DavidsonPhotos.com
Baseball Opens 2026 Campaign Friday Against Bryant
2/12/2026 5:10:00 PM | Baseball
The 124th season of Davidson baseball commences this weekend when the Wildcats open the 2026 season at home against the Bryant Bulldogs.
The series begins with a 5 p.m. first pitch Friday at Wilson Field.
Davidson will play its first seven games at home and its first 19 in the Carolinas.
LATEST ON THE 'CATS
• The Wildcats are coming off a 27-29 campaign, which included an 18-12 record in Atlantic 10 Conference play and a return trip to the A-10 Tournament.
• The 2026 season is Rucker Taylor's eighth as head coach and his 14th season with the program overall. His teams are 193-143 (.574), which ranks second on the program's all-time wins list.
• Davidson is tasked with replacing seven starters from its everyday lineup, with the exception of center fielder Jamie Daly and catcher/designated hitter Anthony Torreso.
• Torreso, a redshirt junior, returned from injury to play in 38 games last season and hit .351 with a 1.131 OPS, 10 doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBIs. He slugged .649.
• A sophomore, Daly earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie team after hitting .318 with a .978 OPS, 12 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBIs.
• Versatile senior Aidan Rice has appeared in 89 games (with 63 starts) in his career and played at multiple infield and outfield spots.
• Senior right-hander Wilson Perkins is back for his third season anchoring the weekend rotation. In 30 career games, he's logged 167.2 innings, struck out 150 and posted a 12-9 record with a 6.12 ERA.
• Lefty Cooper Cavanaugh also returns to the weekend rotation, where he has filled the Saturday role. In limited action last season, he was 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .155 average.
• Right-hander Jacob Vokal, a sophomore, is also penciled in as a weekend starter. A two-way player, Vokal pitched 37.2 innings last season, including a combined six innings of one-run baseball in back-to-back midweek starts against South Carolina and No. 4 Clemson.
• Pitchers Ed Hall (RHP, Sr.) and Simon Yochum (RHP, Soph.) return to lead the bullpen after combining for 46 appearances last season. Hall struck out 48 batters in 37.1 innings, while Yochum had a 4.76 ERA in 34.0 innings.
• Perkins, Rice and Torreso are serving as team captains.
PITCHING PROBABLES
• Game 1: Wilson Perkins, RHP (DAV) vs. Kaden Hilburger, RHP (BRY)
• Game 2: Cooper Cavanaugh, LHP (DAV) vs. Dylan Scudder, RHP (BRY)
• Game 3: Jacob Vokal, RHP (DAV) vs. Jackson Vanesko, LHP (BRY)
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Bryant is coming off its second straight 36-win campaign and America East regular season title.
• The Bulldogs made their fourth Division I NCAA Tournament in 2024.
• Infielder Zac Zyons, catcher Brandyn Durand and pitcher Michael Belcher were named to the America East Preseason Team. Zyons is a two-time America East First Team pick and a career .316 hitter. He and Durand have each hit 23 career home runs. Belcher posted a 4.52 ERA in 65.2 innings last season and was America East Rookie of the Year.
• The Bulldogs are coached by Ryan Klosterman, who played alongside Davidson's Taylor in Vanderbilt's infield. He has been named America East Coach of the Year the last two seasons.
The series begins with a 5 p.m. first pitch Friday at Wilson Field.
Davidson will play its first seven games at home and its first 19 in the Carolinas.
LATEST ON THE 'CATS
• The Wildcats are coming off a 27-29 campaign, which included an 18-12 record in Atlantic 10 Conference play and a return trip to the A-10 Tournament.
• The 2026 season is Rucker Taylor's eighth as head coach and his 14th season with the program overall. His teams are 193-143 (.574), which ranks second on the program's all-time wins list.
• Davidson is tasked with replacing seven starters from its everyday lineup, with the exception of center fielder Jamie Daly and catcher/designated hitter Anthony Torreso.
• Torreso, a redshirt junior, returned from injury to play in 38 games last season and hit .351 with a 1.131 OPS, 10 doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBIs. He slugged .649.
• A sophomore, Daly earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie team after hitting .318 with a .978 OPS, 12 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBIs.
• Versatile senior Aidan Rice has appeared in 89 games (with 63 starts) in his career and played at multiple infield and outfield spots.
• Senior right-hander Wilson Perkins is back for his third season anchoring the weekend rotation. In 30 career games, he's logged 167.2 innings, struck out 150 and posted a 12-9 record with a 6.12 ERA.
• Lefty Cooper Cavanaugh also returns to the weekend rotation, where he has filled the Saturday role. In limited action last season, he was 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .155 average.
• Right-hander Jacob Vokal, a sophomore, is also penciled in as a weekend starter. A two-way player, Vokal pitched 37.2 innings last season, including a combined six innings of one-run baseball in back-to-back midweek starts against South Carolina and No. 4 Clemson.
• Pitchers Ed Hall (RHP, Sr.) and Simon Yochum (RHP, Soph.) return to lead the bullpen after combining for 46 appearances last season. Hall struck out 48 batters in 37.1 innings, while Yochum had a 4.76 ERA in 34.0 innings.
• Perkins, Rice and Torreso are serving as team captains.
PITCHING PROBABLES
• Game 1: Wilson Perkins, RHP (DAV) vs. Kaden Hilburger, RHP (BRY)
• Game 2: Cooper Cavanaugh, LHP (DAV) vs. Dylan Scudder, RHP (BRY)
• Game 3: Jacob Vokal, RHP (DAV) vs. Jackson Vanesko, LHP (BRY)
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Bryant is coming off its second straight 36-win campaign and America East regular season title.
• The Bulldogs made their fourth Division I NCAA Tournament in 2024.
• Infielder Zac Zyons, catcher Brandyn Durand and pitcher Michael Belcher were named to the America East Preseason Team. Zyons is a two-time America East First Team pick and a career .316 hitter. He and Durand have each hit 23 career home runs. Belcher posted a 4.52 ERA in 65.2 innings last season and was America East Rookie of the Year.
• The Bulldogs are coached by Ryan Klosterman, who played alongside Davidson's Taylor in Vanderbilt's infield. He has been named America East Coach of the Year the last two seasons.
Players Mentioned
LHP
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OF
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RHP
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INF/OF
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RHP/INF
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RHP
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