Upon making the SCAC Tournament for the first time, the University of St. Thomas-Houston Celt Baseball team is excited to announce their 2023 Spring Schedule. The Celts will compete in 40 games, 21 of which are SCAC matchups. With all but two of their All-Conference performers returning, St. Thomas is fueled by stellar pitching and a high-powered offense. 

A Schedule Worth Watching

The Celts will begin their season on the road against Howard Payne. Following that will be the home opener against McMurry on February 18 and 19 on the grounds of Houston Christian University. St. Thomas will fine-tune their skills in these and other non-conference matchups before beginning SCAC play in mid-March. 

During the eight years before last season, the SCAC Baseball Tournament featured the same four teams competing for the title. Then, in his first year at the helm, Head Coach David Wood led St. Thomas to win 11 SCAC matchups to lock in the fourth seed, taking two off Centenary in the final weekend of regular season play. In the tournament, they defeated Texas Lutheran who was tabbed as the pre-season favorite in an outstanding 4-3 victory, before falling to Trinity in the semi-finals. 

Returning a Reloaded Roster and Staff

On the mound, the Celts were led by dynamic duo Landon Murray and Chris Parsons. Murray and Parsons both achieved all-SCAC honors for their outstanding pitching. Last season, Murray became the first Celt to reach 100 strikeouts in a career, and currently sits at 111 all-time. His partner, Parsons, had an impressive first year, posting a team-high six wins and averaging nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings. He also added a complete game on his 12 starts. 

Offensively, the bats of Erik Garza and Dylan Lamb put opponents on notice. Garza posted an impressive .568 slugging percentage as he hit five home runs. His efforts earned him Hitter of the Week honors. The Celts also return Lamb, who played every single game for the Celts and hit a team-high six home runs. With his outstanding performance at the plate, Lamb earned Second Team All-SCAC Honors. 

Head Coach Wood returns for his second season to lead UST baseball. He and his staff are responsible for guiding the team into official NCAA Division III status this year, making the Celts eligible for national tournaments. With an SCAC tournament championship, the Celts now automatically qualify for the NCAA baseball championships. 

"We upgraded a lot of key spots. We brought in a class of 30 guys with 19 being freshman so we expect that group to contribute a lot," Wood said. "As for our returners, we are bringing back our entire outfield and a few key arms. We expect to be deeper in all three spots: offensively, defensively and on the mound."

For the full UST Celt Baseball schedule, click here!