The Citadel Bulldogs baseball team represents The Citadel in college baseball. They are classified as NCAA Division I and play in the Southern Conference. The Bulldogs are led by Russell Triplett, who coached his first season in 2025. They made their one appearance in the College World Series in 1990. They are the first and, , only military school to appear in the College World Series. The Citadel has won nine Southern Conference baseball tournament titles and produced 11 major league players.

Facilities The Bulldogs play their games at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park located just outside The Citadel campus in Charleston, SC. They share the facility with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, and have permanent rights to play in the stadium as it was built on formerly Citadel-owned land. The original home of The Citadel baseball team was on WLI Field, on the banks of the Ashley River on campus, and still in use today by The Citadel soccer team. From 1967 until the opening of Riley Park in 1997, The Bulldogs played in College Park, located northeast of campus on Rutledge Avenue. This facility is still in use as The Citadel practice facility and for community purposes. On-campus locker rooms are located in McAlister Field House, an indoor batting cage and other team spaces are located in Vandiver Hall. Like all Citadel athletic teams, the Bulldogs utilize strength and conditioning, medical, and video spaces in Seignious Hall.

Coaches

Coaching records Below are records for all coaches who have known records at The Citadel O. B. "Rip" Sanderson19081510.833George A. Schmick19101460.400"Barney" Legge19111251.286George C. Rogers1914–15, 1921–24626331.441Thomas S. McMillan1916, 191928120.400"Shorty" O'Brien19181390.250Ed Sabre19201310.750"Bull Dog" Drummond19251270.222H. L. "Matty" Matthews1926–30, 1937–38310251.286Dusty Rhodes19471250.286Bunzy O'Neal19481670.462John D. McMillan1952–53214150.483Harold Manley19541590.357Fred Montsdeoca1954–56222310.415Mack Erwin1957–60462301.672Jim Newsome1961–64437430.463Chal Port1965–91276413862.624Fred Jordan1992–2017268317060Tony Skole2018–202471232160Russell Triplett2025–present267520 Comprehensive records are only available beginning with the 1954 season. The Citadel continues to research and compile records for previous seasons.

Current staff Russell TriplettHead coach2David BeckleyAssistant coach18 (1st stint 2002–2017)James ReevesPitching Coach2Phil TobinAssistant Coach2

Seasons and results

The Citadel has posted four 40-win seasons and 27 30-win seasons. The Bulldogs are one of the leading programs in the Southern Conference, trailing only Western Carolina in total championships by one, with all other programs several behind the two leaders.

NCAA Tournament appearances The Citadel holds a 14–29 record in the NCAA tournament in 14 appearances, winning the 1990 Atlantic Regional in Coral Gables, Florida.

The 1990 team overcame the damage of Hurricane Hugo to appear in the 1990 College World Series. Their finals matchup against the resulted in headlines echoing the Hurricanes team name and noting the severe damage in Charleston, South Carolina, from Hurricane Hugo the previous fall, including damage to The Citadel's stadium, College Park. The Bulldogs went 1–2 in the College World Series, defeating Cal State Fullerton in an extra-inning thriller before falling to LSU for a second time in their elimination game. 1960 District 3 Playoffs FloridaNorth CarolinaFlorida L 2–4L 1–13L 1–41975 Atlantic Regional South CarolinaNC State L 3–11L 3–161979 Atlantic Regional MiamiGeorgia Southern L 1–3 (16)L 3–51982 East Regional North CarolinaSouth CarolinaOld DominionSouth Carolina W 9–4L 4–6W 15–1L 2–111983 East Regional DelawareNorth CarolinaJames MadisonDelaware W 14–5W 5–3L 2–5L 1–71990 Atlantic Regional NC StateEast CarolinaMiamiMiamiLSUCal State FullertonLSU W 11–3W 8–5W 6–2W 4–1L 2–8W 8–7 (12)L 1–61994 East Regional ClemsonVirginia TechNotre DameL 1–5W 4–3L 1–51995 Mideast Regional TennesseePittsburgh L 2–5L 10–121998 East Regional ClemsonFordhamVCU L 3–12W 5–1L 2–3 (11) 1999 Tallahassee Super RegionalTallahassee Regional Florida StateProvidence L 6–24L 1–122001 Palo Alto Super RegionalColumbia Regional South CarolinaPrinceton L 0–16L 6–112004 Columbia Super RegionalColumbia Regional South CarolinaCoastal CarolinaNorth Carolina L 4–12W 10–1L 3–62010 Myrtle Beach Super RegionalColumbia Regional Virginia TechSouth CarolinaVirginia Tech W 7–2L 4–9L 3–42026 Atlanta Regional OklahomaUICOklahoma L 3–8W 9–8(10)L 5–15

List of championships Tournament championships The Bulldogs have claimed nine Southern Conference baseball tournament championships, second all-time after Western Carolina. The Bulldogs won their first tournament in 1990, and most recently won in 2026. The Tournament's greatest box office success has come when held in Charleston with The Citadel reaching the finals. The Citadel was a participant in each of the top 10 most attended SoCon Baseball Tournament games through the 2013 tournament.

Regular season championships The Citadel has won thirteen Southern Conference regular season championships. They won their first in 1960 and their most recent in 2010. The Bulldogs have won more Southern Conference regular season championships than any other program currently in the conference.

Rivalries The Citadel's primary athletic rivals are Virginia Military Institute, Furman, and College of Charleston. The recent rise of College of Charleston's baseball program has led to many close games and strong attendance both at Riley Park and at CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point. The Bulldogs have had success against most in state schools, with the exception of Clemson and South Carolina.

Bulldogs in the pros At least 47 players from The Citadel have played in the minor leagues.

Major League Baseball draft The Citadel has had 50 Major League Baseball draft selections since the draft began in 1965. Notable picks include 1985 second round pick (46th overall) Tim Jones, 2001 second round pick (57th overall) Dallas McPherson, and 2010 second round pick (41st overall) Asher Wojciechowski. Bulldogs in the Major League Baseball Draft Year Player Round Team 1965 31 Yankees 1966 13 Phillies 1977 5 Braves 1979 24 Brewers 1982 13 Indians 1982 7 Braves 1982 5 Dodgers 1983 44 Rangers 1983 2 Dodgers 1984 23 Cardinals 1985 2 Cardinals 1988 28 Cardinals 1990 29 Cardinals 1991 30 Athletics 1992 15 Red Sox 1995 25 Athletics 1995 17 Cardinals 1996 11 Mets 1998 40 Braves 1998 24 Marlins 1998 5 Yankees 1999 29 Pirates 1999 15 Red Sox 2000 43 Indians 2000 15 Cardinals 2001 25 Marlins 2001 12 Orioles 2001 2 Angels 2002 13 Mariners 2004 8 Blue Jays 2004 6 Padres 2006 24 Cubs 2007 27 Padres 2008 26 Cardinals 2009 35 Mets 2009 21 Braves 2009 13 Red Sox 2009 9 Cubs 2010 41 Padres 2010 25 Diamondbacks 2010 1 Blue Jays 2011 28 Braves 2013 19 Tigers 2013 5 Rangers 2014 19 Marlins 2014 13 Yankees 2015 17 Diamondbacks 2015 12 Phillies 2015 10 Yankees 2017 11 Mariners

Major League players 11 Bulldogs have played in the Major Leagues.

1920–19243Sumpter ClarkeCubs, Indians1984–19852Jeff BarkleyIndians1986–19883Don GordonBlue Jays, Indians1988–19936Tim JonesCardinals2000–20034Scott MullenRoyals, Dodgers2000–20066Britt ReamesCardinals, Expos, Athletics, Pirates2004–20115Dallas McPhersonAngels, Marlins, White Sox20131Chris McGuinessRangers2015–20215Asher WojciechowskiHouston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees2016–20205Mike ClevingerCleveland Indians, San Diego Padres2021–present5JP SearsNew York Yankees, Oakland Athletics/Athletics, San Diego Padres *Years span all seasons played ^Seasons includes partial seasons

Individual honors The Citadel frequently produces players who claim national and conference level awards. Below are selected postseason All-America awards as well as Southern Conference awards for full seasons and end of season tournaments.

All-Americans ABCA 1990 – Anthony Jenkins (OF) – First team 2010 – Asher Wojciechowski (P) – Third team

Baseball America 1983 – Mike Cherry (P) – First team 2010 – Asher Wojciechowski (P) – Third team

Collegiate Baseball/Louisville Slugger 1999 – Rodney Hancock (P) – Third team 1999 – Brian Wiley (P) – Third team 2000 – Philip Hartig (1B) – Second team 2001 – Randy Corn (P) – Second team 2001 – Philip Hartig (1B) – Third team 2002 – Randy Corn (P) – Third team 2004 – Chip Cannon (1B) – Third team 2009 – Richard Jones (C) – Second team 2010 – Asher Wojciechowski (P) – Second team 2013 – Joe Jackson (C) – Third team

Freshman All-American 2013 – Skylar Hunter (P)

Southern Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player 1990Billy Baker1994Jermaine Shuler1995Donald Morillo1998Brian Rogers1999Rodney Hancock2001Randy Corn2004Jonathan Ellis2010Justin Mackert2013Joe Jackson

Southern Conference Player of the Year 1976Richard Wieters1977Richard Wieters1982Bill White1983Mike Cherry2001Philip Hartig

Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year 1990Ken Britt1992Gettys Glaze1999Brian Wiley2001Eric Talbert2002Randy Corn2004Jonathan Ellis2009Wes Wrenn2010Asher Wojciechowski2013Austin Pritcher2015James Reeves2017J. P. Sears

See also List of NCAA Division I baseball programs

References