The opening month of SoCon baseball has produced enough data and film to begin evaluating one of the most important roles on any college pitching staff: the Friday night starter. Through the first four weekend series of the season, every SoCon program has relied on the same pitcher to open Game 1. With four starts from each arm now on record, the sample size offers a meaningful opportunity to assess performance, trends, and overall impact. In college baseball’s language, being the “Friday Guy” is a badge of trust from the coaching staff and the pitcher responsible for setting the tone for the entire weekend series.
To evaluate the conference’s Friday starters, eight different nerdy analytical tools were applied, including strength of schedule. Numbers rarely tell the full story on their own, so film review and the traditional live eye test were also part of the process. The film study largely confirmed what the data suggested—and yes, the black‑rimmed analytical nerd glasses were firmly in place while reviewing every outing. With four weeks of evidence now available, here is the current ranking of the SoCon Friday Guys.
1. Kenny Michaels, Wofford
The most consistent performance among SoCon Friday starters belongs to Kenny Michaels, Wofford’s 6’4” junior left‑hander. Across four outings, Michaels has produced the strongest overall statistical profile in the conference.
He leads the group in innings pitched by a comfortable margin while maintaining a 0.96 WHIP, the best mark among the Friday starters. Durability and efficiency have allowed him to consistently work deep into games while limiting base runners.
The primary contextual note involves schedule strength. The average opponent RPI Michaels has faced sits above 247, one of the lighter schedules among the conference’s Friday starters. Even with that context, the visual evaluation reinforces his ranking. Michaels works downhill with a clean delivery and consistently positions Wofford to compete for the series opener each weekend.
2. Tadan Bell, ETSU
ETSU’s Tadan Bell combines production, presence, and reliability. The 6’2”, 200‑pound left‑hander transferred from Coastal Carolina and has quickly settled into the role of the Buccaneers’ Friday guy.
His metrics remain strong across the board, and he holds a unique distinction among the conference’s Friday starters: he has not allowed a home run this season. His statistical profile would likely appear even stronger if his most recent outing had not been shortened by weather conditions.
Bell’s presence on the mound is difficult to ignore. His demeanor and tempo project confidence, and he brings a physical edge that complements his arsenal. He sports a Top Ten All-Time SoCon Mustache, which only adds to a visual identity that fits the role of a Friday night ace.
3. Peyton Dhein, VMI
VMI’s Peyton Dhein does not overwhelm hitters with size or velocity, but the results have been among the best in the conference. The 5’10”, 170‑pound left‑hander currently owns the lowest ERA among SoCon Friday guys at 2.84.
Dhein has also limited damage effectively, allowing just one home run through four starts. His success comes from command, pitch sequencing, and the ability to disrupt timing. His breaking pitches feature late movement, and he changes speeds with precision.
The competition level is the primary variable in evaluating his numbers. The average opponent RPI he has faced sits above 280, the lowest among the conference’s Friday starters. Even with that context, his execution has been impressive.
4. Will Holmes, The Citadel
The Citadel’s Will Holmes may possess the most explosive raw stuff among the conference’s Friday starters. The 6’0”, 205‑pound left‑hander can run his fastball into the mid‑90s, giving him a velocity advantage over much of the league.
Holmes has also faced the toughest schedule of any Friday starter in the SoCon, adding important context to his statistical profile. According to the evaluation formula used in this ranking, Holmes is essentially tied with VMI’s Peyton Dhein.
The difference lies in command. Holmes has issued more walks than any other Friday starter, creating volatility in his outings. His most recent start highlighted that inconsistency: five walks, one hit batter, and 74 pitches required to navigate two innings. The tools are elite, but command remains the separator between potential and sustained dominance.
5. Garrett Lambert, Mercer
Mercer’s Garrett Lambert is the only right‑hander in the upper part of the ranking and one of the most intriguing arms in the conference. The redshirt freshman presents the visual profile of a frontline starter and backs it up with impressive swing‑and‑miss numbers.
Lambert holds the best strikeout‑to‑innings ratio among SoCon Friday starters. However, efficiency has limited his impact so far.
His walk total ranks second among the conference’s Friday starters, and he has struggled to pitch deep into games. As a result, Lambert currently has the fewest innings pitched among the group. The raw ability suggests future movement upward in the rankings if the command stabilizes.
6. Mason Blasche, Samford
Few pitchers in the conference entered the season with the expectations surrounding Mason Blasche. The Samford right‑hander was the preseason favorite for SoCon Pitcher of the Year after finishing last season with a perfect 10–0 record and a 3.24 ERA.
The early results have been uneven. Blasche currently leads the conference’s Friday starters in home runs allowed, while his ERA sits at 6.75, and opponents are hitting .305 against him.
Schedule context again matters. Blasche has faced the second‑toughest lineup slate among the conference’s Friday starters. He has also demonstrated resilience by battling through difficult innings and providing valuable length for Samford’s pitching staff. The consistency that defined last season has yet to fully return.
7. Noah Chapman, UNCG
UNCG’s Noah Chapman, a 5’11”, 195‑pound junior left‑hander, has encountered a difficult opening stretch. His opponents represent the third‑toughest schedule among the conference’s Friday starters.
Even with that context, the numbers have been challenging. Chapman currently carries the highest ERA in the group at 9.17, and several outings have placed the Spartans in early deficits.
There is still ample time in the season for adjustments, but the first four weeks have not provided the stability UNCG hoped for from the front of the rotation.
8. Davis Wright, Western Carolina
The final spot in the ranking goes to Davis Wright, the only senior among the SoCon’s Friday starters. The 5’11”, 195‑pound left‑hander entered the season expected to anchor Western Carolina’s pitching staff.
Across most of the analytical metrics used in this evaluation, Wright ranked near the bottom of the conference’s Friday starters. The exceptions were walks and schedule strength.
Home runs have been an issue, similar to Samford’s Mason Blasche. Unlike Blasche, however, Wright has struggled to provide length. Wright and Mercer’s Garrett Lambert currently sit last among Friday starters in innings pitched, limiting his ability to stabilize the Catamounts’ rotation. He’s a veteran arm with a lot of experience, so a bounce-back should be expected.
The Point After
Four weeks into the season, the hierarchy among the SoCon Friday night starters is beginning to take shape. Kenny Michaels has delivered the most stable performance to this point, while Tadan Bell and Peyton Dhein have combined strong results with consistent execution.
At the same time, the margins within this group remain fluid. Holmes’ velocity, Lambert’s strikeout ability, and Blasche’s established track record suggest that the rankings could shift as conference play deepens.
The role itself remains one of the most influential positions in college baseball. The Friday starter faces the opponent’s best arm, absorbs the pressure of opening the series, and often determines the direction of the weekend. Through four series, these eight pitchers have defined the early narrative of the SoCon season—and their next several outings will shape the conference race that follows.
