Emily Orsini, Sports Editor–

The Denison baseball team has picked up right where they left off last season in regular-season playing, standing at 25-5 overall and 9-1 in NCAC play after sweeping Wooster 17-0 and 7-1 in a doubleheader April 18.

The team is consistently being ranked in the top five, with D3baseball.com placing them fifth in the nation and Perfect Game third. 

While Erik Sundgren ‘26 and Eric Colaco’s ‘25’s performances at the plate are notable contributors to the team’s success, the Big Red’s pitching staff has also been integral to the team’s strong record.

The starting pitchers of the Big Red’s bullpen are putting up historical numbers— Peter Lemke ‘27, Sam Larson ‘27, Nick Falter ‘25, Michael Gray ‘26, and Will Rettig ‘26 occupy the top five spots in the NCAC for opposing team batting average, with Lemke being first with a .153, Larson second with a .164, Falter third with .183, Gray fourth with a 0.183, and Rettig fifth with a 0.187 average. 

Lemke is also leading the NCAC with a 1.86 ERA (earned run average). Larson has only allowed 18 hits this season, and Falter has the most strikeouts (68), strikeouts looking (22), and wins (8) this year in the NCAC. 

“I prepare more than anyone in the country,” said Lemke. “I believe preparation is not just the day of, but the week, month, year, before that prepares you for each game and season. With that said, I take preparation as seriously as I can.”

“I treat every batter the same when I’m on the mound,” said Falter. “Anyone in the box with a bat is considered dangerous, so staying focused is really important to performing in a game.”

A big part of the Big Red’s pitching success comes from understanding the different roles each pitcher has.

Starters like Lemke and Falter focus on consistency and stamina to pitch deep into games, while relievers, such as Ryan Starr ‘25, enter for shorter, high-pressure outings where maximum effort and quick impact are key. 

Starr’s role is different than Falter and Lemke’s— at any moment’s notice, Starr could have to go in and perform.

Unlike starters who have days between outings, Starr has to stay ready every game, often stepping into high-pressure situations without much warning. 

“It’s a little bit different for me because I don’t pitch a lot of innings, but I pitch in a lot of games,” said Starr. “I have to be ready to go at any time. [When I go in] is very situation dependent, so you just have to be able to read the game and have a feel for things to stay ready.”

With this, success looks different for Lemke and Falter compared to relief pitchers like Starr. 

“My goal each game is to execute as many pitches as I can,” said Lemke. “So I might look at a game where I give up a couple runs as better than one where I give up no runs or hits. I measure success by the percentage of pitches I execute, and once the ball leaves my hand there’s nothing I can do to control the hitter’s swing or luck or the umpire’s call.”

“My ability to bounce back day-to-day is what sets me apart. Since I’m only pitching one or two innings in a game, I can pitch pretty often whereas other pitchers have to take a lot of time off in between,” said Starr. “That’s probably my biggest difference between [other pitchers]. I throw often, but not long in length.”

Additionally, the advantage of having a pitching staff with a diverse arsenal is their ability to throw off batters. Each pitcher serves their own purpose, and can positively influence a game in their own way. 

“I’m a pitcher that’s gonna attack in the zone, constantly getting ahead in the count,” said Lemke. “I throw hard for this level, and my pitch shapes are well above average, headlined by my sinker and hard slider. I mix 5 pitches well and have good command which helps me keep hitters off balance.”

“My slider is my bread and butter,” said Starr. “I also have a fastball and a curve, but my slider is definitely my go-to to keep hitters off balance.” 

The Big Red, who also swept DePauw 12-4 and 8-6 on April 16, took a four-game winning streak into the April 22 game against Marietta. 

Falter picked up his eighth win of the year in game one against the Fighting Scots, where he threw six innings and allowed only four hits, two walks, and struck out ten. 

Lemke started the second game against Wooster, where he pitched 6.1 innings and allowed one run on only two hits. 

The Big Red will play Ohio Northern at home on April 23 and face off against Hiram in an away double header on April 26.