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Joseph Dzierwa (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)
Baseball America is tracking the outings of college baseball aces. Here are 15 who stood out in Week 12, plus honorable mentions. Players are listed alphabetically.
Harrison Bodendorf, LHP, Oklahoma State
Bodendorf followed up a string of three-straight abbreviated starts with another masterclass, blanking UCF over eight dominant innings. The lefthander allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out seven, continuing his ascension as one of the Big 12’s most reliable arms. A transfer from Hawaii, Bodendorf has made a seamless jump in competition this season, and his ability to lean on a well-commanded fastball alongside two whiff-heavy secondaries—his changeup and slider—has fueled a breakout year at the power-conference level. He’s stacking big outings at the right time, and his draft stock continues to climb.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
Colin Daniel, RHP, UAB
Daniel returns to the Ace Report for the second straight week after another standout outing, even if the win column didn’t reflect it. The righthander was saddled with a tough-luck loss against Memphis despite throwing eight strong frames, allowing just five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out seven. Daniel has leaned heavily on his fastball-slider combo all season, generating weak contact and piling up ground balls at an impressive clip. While he doesn’t typically rack up gaudy strikeout totals, Daniel’s efficiency, command and ability to work deep into games have turned him into a true anchor for the UAB rotation.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2/1 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Brian Curley, RHP, Georgia
It’s hard to overlook what Curley did Friday, even against a Missouri lineup that’s struggled mightily against quality SEC pitching. The former closer turned starter was dominant, throwing seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts, four hits allowed and no walks. Curley has adapted seamlessly to the rotation, where his explosive fastball—topping out in triple digits—and a wicked, chase-inducing slider continued to torment opposing hitters. His versatility has made him a crucial piece of Georgia’s staff, and performances like this only reinforce how far he’s come since opening the year at the back end of games.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
It had been a few weeks since Dzierwa last turned in a performance fit for the Ace Report, but he made a resounding return Friday with a complete-game shutout against Oregon. The 6-foot-8 lefthander struck out 11, allowed just three hits, and didn’t issue a walk in the first complete game of his career. Dzierwa now sits just six strikeouts shy of a new single-season career high and continues to show the kind of ceiling evaluators love—riding a mid-90s fastball with big extension and a plus changeup that gives hitters fits. When he’s sequencing well and commanding the zone, outings like this are the result.
Final line: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K
Blake Gillespie, RHP, Charlotte
Even in a losing effort, Gillespie once again earned his place on the Ace Report. The Charlotte righthander went eight strong innings against Rice, allowing just four hits and two earned runs without walking a batter and striking out six. One of our favorite arms to track week to week, Gillespie continues to show elite command and deep-game reliability. His feel for mixing pitches and working efficiently through lineups has made him a dominant presence atop Charlotte’s rotation—and one of the biggest portal success stories in the country this season.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Davion Hickson, RHP, Rice
Hickson one-upped his solid Week 11 performance with a true statement outing in Week 12, tossing a one-hit shutout against a strong Charlotte team and outdueling ace Blake Gillespie in the process. The Rice righthander struck out nine, walked three and didn’t allow a run over nine brilliant innings. Hickson has quietly become one of the few bright spots in a tough season for the Owls, and this outing—against a quality lineup with regional aspirations—was the latest proof that he’s capable of high-end dominance.
Final line: 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 K
Riely Hunsaker, RHP, Lamar
Hunsaker earned his way onto the Ace Report with one of the best outings of the season by a Lamar pitcher—and did so in a moment that mattered. The righthander tossed seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, four hits allowed and two walks in a pivotal win over Southeastern Louisiana. For a Lamar team clinging to postseason hopes, Hunsaker’s performance couldn’t have come at a better time. He attacked the zone with confidence, missed bats at will and gave his team the lift it needed in a must-win game while lowering his ERA to 2.33 in 65.2 innings on the year.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K
Long Beach State Duo
This marks an Ace Report first—a shared spotlight. We usually highlight standout individual efforts, but what Kellen Montgomery and Albert Roblez did Friday night against UC Davis simply couldn’t go unrecognized. The duo combined to throw all 15 innings of a grueling extra-inning battle, beginning with seven shutout frames from Montgomery, followed by eight gutsy innings from Roblez, who allowed just one run while striking out 11. In total, the pair surrendered just 10 hits and one earned run while striking out 16. It will likely go down as one of the most impressive losing efforts of the season, and deserved its shine.
Final line: 15.0 IP, 10 H, 1 R/ER, 6 BB, 16 Ks
JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss
Middleton just keeps showing up. The Southern Miss righthander once again delivered in a pressure spot, tossing seven efficient innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 win over Arkansas State. He allowed just five hits, didn’t issue a walk, and struck out six in a performance that continues to cement his status as one of the most reliable arms outside the Power 4. With advanced command, a heavy fastball and a slider that keeps hitters guessing, Middleton has become a fixture on the Ace Report for good reason—and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down as he now owns a 1.86 ERA and 88 strikeouts to 19 walks over 77.1 innings.
Final line: 7.0 H, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K
Jacob Morrison, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Morrison did exactly what Coastal Carolina has come to expect from him—set the tone and dominate. The tall righthander fired seven shutout innings against Appalachian State, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out eight. Morrison has been a steady force at the front of a Chanticleers rotation that’s quietly anchored one of the most consistent teams in the country. If Coastal makes a deep run this postseason, Morrison’s reliability and poise will be a big reason why.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
Griffin Naess, RHP, Cal Poly
Naess put together a clean, efficient outing against Cal State Bakersfield, cruising through eight innings of one-run ball while scattering five hits and walking just one. While Naess doesn’t pile up strikeouts—he recorded just one on the night—he consistently filled the zone and worked ahead. He relies on a three-pitch mix anchored by a changeup that’s been his most effective swing-and-miss offering, complemented by a fastball and curveball that generate soft contact. It was another example of how Naess can control a game without overpowering hitters.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas
Root picked the perfect time to deliver the best start of his career, dominating No. 1 Texas on Friday night in front of a rowdy Fayetteville crowd. The lefthander struck out a career-high 11 over eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks. He filled the zone all night with a fastball that bore in on hitters and a massive, sweeping curveball that froze hitters when they didn’t swing straight through it. It was pure dominance from start to finish and a major statement outing from one of Arkansas’ most trusted arms.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K
Nathan Taylor, RHP, Cincinnati
Taylor’s addition to the Ace Report is all about impact. Facing a dangerous, top-25 Kansas lineup, Taylor delivered a season-saving outing for a Cincinnati team clinging to postseason hopes. The righthander tossed eight innings of two-run ball, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out seven. His effort helped the Bearcats secure a critical win and jump seven spots to No. 52 in the RPI—within striking distance of the at-large conversation. There’s still work ahead, but Friday night’s performance marked a massive step forward in keeping Cincinnati’s tournament hopes alive.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 7 K
JD Thompson, LHP, Vanderbilt
Thompson was simply overpowering Friday night against Alabama, continuing to build on what’s been an impressive draft season. The lefthander fired seven shutout innings, giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out 11—just three shy of his career high, which he set just two weeks ago. Thompson’s arsenal, which includes a fastball, changeup, slider and curveball, has been lights out for most of the year, and was dialed in again as he carved through one of the SEC’s toughest lineups. Vanderbilt’s rotation has found its rhythm behind Thompson, who’s now pitching like a true ace.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Witherspoon continued his run as one of the best arms in the country with a dominant showing against Ole Miss, tossing seven one-hit, scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. The Oklahoma righthander filled up the zone with his usual confidence, leaning on a well-shaped fastball and two distinct breaking balls that he can land for strikes or use to miss bats. Witherspoon’s poise, pitchability and consistency have turned him into a true Friday anchor, a big reason why the Sooners remain in the hunt to host and a potential early first rounder this summer.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K
Honorable Mentions:
- Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 5 K
- Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 10 K
- Matthew Dalquist, RHP, UC San Diego: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R/ER, 0 BB, 5 K
- Rory Fox, RHP, Notre Dame: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 K
- Grayson Grinsell, LHP, Oregon: 8.0 IP, 2 H, 2/1 R/ER, 2 BB, 9 K
- Ben Jacobs, LHP, Arizona State: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 6 BB, 10 K
- Mikiah Negrete, LHP, Cal State Fullerton: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 8 K
- Michael Quevedo, LHP, Kansas State: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 3 BB, 10 K
- Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 9 K
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