The final week of the season brings Senior Day as team's honor student-athletes for their contributions on and off the field at their final home game. Although this unprecedented season means that we can't celebrate in person, we recognize our 2020 senior players virtually.
NO. 28 DALTON DAVIES
Right-handed hitter who has contributed in several different roles in his two seasons ... Played in 13 games in 2020, including eight starts in left field, right field or at DH ... Also made two appearances on the mound ... Contributed a two-run single in 10-7 win over UNC Asheville in the season's final game ... Drove in a run with a sac bunt in win over Bryant ... Starting catcher in 2019 who hit .261 with one homer and 15 RBI ... Led the team with 28 walks and eight sacrifice bunts.
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NO. 2 DAINO DEAS
Started 63 games at second base or designated hitter in two seasons ... Has three career triples, along with two homers and nine doubles ... Played in 10 games, starting nine, at second base or DH in 2020 ... Contributed two doubles, one triple and four RBI ... Delivered a walk-off single in the 10th inning for a 9-8 victory over Cincinnati on Opening Day ... Starter at second base and leadoff hitter in 2019, when he hit .266 and was second on the team with 35 runs scored, along with two homers and 22 RBI.
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NO. 11 BRANDON HILL
Transfer student-athlete whose first season at GSU was cut short ... Got off to a strong start with a home run in the Panthers' win over St. John's on the opening weekend ... Outstanding defensive center fielder who made an amazing diving catch in the Opening Day win over Cincinnati.
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NO. 23 TYLER KOCH
Four-year letterwinner as a left-handed pitcher (2017-20) ... Entered the starting rotation as a junior after 46 career appearances out of the bullpen ... Â Has two career victories and two saves in 64 outings with 112 strikeouts in 112.2 innings ... Thirteen career pickoffs ... In 2020, he posted a career-best 2.70 ERA in six outings ... Struck out 16 in 10 innings and had a .195 batting average against ... His final outing of the abbreviated season was one of the best of his career as he pitched four hitless, scoreless innings with a career-high seven strikeouts in a start vs. Mercer ... Also an outstanding student who earned his degree in managerial science in May 2020.
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NO. 18 ELIAN MEREJO
Was enjoying an outstanding senior season as the Panthers' top hitter ... Led the team with a .407 batting average, five homers and six doubles, along with 13 RBI ... Ranked in the Top 5 in the Sun Belt in average (4th), homers (4th), slugging (.763/2nd) and on-base percentage (.527/3rd) and walks (15/2nd) ... Walked 15 times, including five intentional walks ... Second on the team with 18 runs scored ... Named Sun Belt Player of the Week after going 7-for-11 with two homers, two doubles, seven RBI and seven runs scored in wins over Cincinnati, St. John's and Saint Peter's ... Started 67 games over two seasons, either in left field or at DH, and hit .300 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI.
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