BETHANY, Okla. — Southern Nazarene will open up the 2014 baseball season this Saturday as they host Mid-America Christian. The Storm are looking to build off of a strong finish to the year last season when they swept their final three games against Oklahoma Christian. Last year, SNU finished 20-25 overall and 9-21 in the Great American Conference. The Storm returns 14 players from last season's team and nine starters.
 
INFIELD
SNU returns four starters in the infield after losing its top two hitters from last season in Nate Saquilon and Jacob Inbody. All-Great American Conference selection Chance San Miguel, who started 41 of the 42 games he played in at catcher, returns for his senior season. San Miguel led the team in home runs with nine and RBI's with 30. He also was third on the team in batting average hitting .317. San Miguel split time with Kyle Fultz behind plate as Fultz returns after splitting time at catcher and first base last season. Fultz started 39 of the 40 games he played hitting .246 with 17 RBI's and two home runs.
 
Daniel Martinez returns to shortstop after starting 39 of the 41 games he played while hitting .261. He also tallied 12 RBI's and two home runs for the Storm. Ryan Brosnan is back after starting in 30 of the 33 games he played last season and was fourth on the team in batting average hitting .293. Brosnan also hit nine RBI's and was fourth on the team in home runs with four.
 
Damian Santamaria and Ryan O'Donnell are also expected to help the Storm in the infield after combining for 23 starts last season. Santamaria batted .231 last season while O'Donnell scored two runs.
 
Zach Friesen also is back after starting in three games last season while batting .200.
 
Caleb Teel is expected to help provide some depth behind the plate after playing one season at Seminole State College and one season at Oklahoma Christian.
 
Tyler Wilson and Kyle Vail will help provide stability at pitcher and first base this season for SNU. Wilson played one season at Chandler Gilbert Community College while Vail spent a season at Wichita State and one season at Seminole State College. Dillon Feeland could also be a key contributor in the infield.
 
OUTFIELD
The Storm return all three starters from the outfield this season. Austin Samulowitz returns after starting 39 of the 40 games he played while hitting .252 and notching eight RBI's. Riley Morrow is back for his junior season after starting all 45 games for SNU last season. Morrow batted .246 and had 19 RBI's last year for the Storm.
 
Scott Stanley and Luis Hernandez each return for the Storm after combining for 42 starts least season. Stanley hit .218 while Hernandez was fifth on the team in batting average hitting .276. Ryan McIntosh also returns this season after only playing in four games last season due to injury
 
Matt Wellman is expected to help the depth in the outfield for SNU after playing in three games last season. Freshmen Michael Descisciolo and Anthony Wiggins Jr. both might also see time at pitcher could also contribute to the outfield.
 
Cody Nelson could also factor into the mix in the outfield. Nelson has spent most of his time on the disabled list, but if healthy could be a contributor for the Storm.
 
PITCHING
Thomas Schellhardt returns with the most experience after making 15 appearances and five starts last season, going 3-1. Brandon Corr also returns after pitching in one game last season. Mason Pinion will help add depth to the rotation after redshirting last year.
 
The Storm also brought in several new players at pitcher for this season. Dante Archuleta played one season at William Penn (Iowa) and Thomas Solowynsky played one season at Santa Ana College could both help contribute. Wilson, Vail, Descisciolo, and Wiggins could also all see time in the pitching rotation.