As the college baseball season rolls on, powerhouse conferences and mid-majors alike delivered standout performances, showcasing elite talent on both sides of the ball. The ACC saw offensive fireworks from Duke’s Tyler Albright and Florida State’s Alex Lodise, while North Carolina’s Jason DeCaro continued his dominance on the mound. In the Big Ten, Indiana’s Devin Taylor put on a show with a grand slam, and Michigan State’s Joseph Dzierwa racked up another dominant start. Meanwhile, mid-major stars like Grand Canyon’s Issac Lyon and UC Santa Barbara’s Tyler Bremner proved they belong in the national spotlight with lights-out performances. With draft stocks rising and statement wins piling up, this weekend further shaped the early-season landscape in college baseball.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Covered by Monty Taylor

Tyler Albright, OF, Duke – 5 AB, 2 R, 3 H, RBI, 2 2B, 1 3B

Tyler Albright has quietly been Duke’s best hitter this season and he continued to be in Friday’s 14-5 win over Northwestern. With three more extra base hits, the junior outfielder now leads Duke in runs, OPS, slugging, and total bases. In the bottom of the 5th, the Blue Devils had just tied the game 4-4 when Albright stepped in with two outs. On the first pitch of the at-bat, he drilled a pitch off the wall in left center, just missing his third home run of the year. He’d come in to score when the next batter, Sam Harris, doubled off the wall in center field. Duke would pull away after that and Albright would add another extra base hit to his performance with an RBI double to right center in the 6th to make it 8-4 Blue Devils.

Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State – 4 AB, 2 R, 3 H, HR, 2 RBI, BB

Alex Lodise has been one of the best shortstops in the country over Florida State’s first nine games. Even with ace Jamie Arnold on the mound, the Seminoles found themselves in a dogfight with a pesky Georgetown Hoyas team. Lodise opened the scoring in the 3rd inning with a two-run blast to left field for his fourth home run of the year. With the Noles leading just 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th, Lodise led off the inning with a single up the middle. He’d later come around to score on a wild pitch while Florida State broke open the game and remained undefeated with a 7-2 victory. Over his first nine games, the FSU shortstop is hitting .450 with two doubles, four homers, and nine runs batted in.     

Kyle Lodise, SS, Georgia Tech –4 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 4 RBI, 1 HR, BB

Alex’s cousin, Kyle Lodise, also had a big night as Georgia Tech thumped Western Michigan, 16-4. The Yellow Jacket leadoff man worked his 12th walk of the season to start the offensive day for Georgia Tech and immediately came around to score when the next batter, Drew Burress, launched a ball over the fence in left. An inning later, with two outs, Lodise launched one over the left field fence himself– his second of the year– to make it 5-0, Georgia Tech. He’d add an RBI single later in the game, but the 1-2 punch of Lodise and Burress at the top of the order is a lethal combination given Lodise’s ability to get on base. The former D-II star boasts a .560 OBP with seven extra base hits on the year.