YOUNGTOWN, Ohio --- Jared Kapturasky is well-acquainted with what it will take for the Biola Eagles to get where they want to go, he helped the Mercyhurst Lakers get there twice.

The right-handed pitcher made back-to-back trips to the NCAA DII College World Series in 2018 and 2019, beating West Region power UC San Diego 6-4 in comeback fashion to advance to the DII College World Series semifinal in that second appearance with the Lakers. Kapturasky's team also won 36 games and swept through opening regional play both years, so there's no question the Ohio-native will give the Eagles someone experienced with the playoff grind when the comes to La Mirada this fall.

Head Coach Jeff Calhoon and company are eager to fortify the roster with that type of veteran. And they confident that Kapturasky will provide the mindset and contributions the program needs to make noise in the coming postseason. 

"Jared is a member of our recruiting class who we believe will make an impact from day one. He is a great leader, has been to two College World Series, and fits our class with his competitiveness," said Head Coach Jeff Calhoon. "Bringing him to Biola for his MBA is a positive in all the difficulties of ending last season prematurely; Jared is going to make an impact, not just our program, but on the university by being here."

Kapturasky played three full seasons and the abbreviated 2020 campaign at Mercyhurst after prepping at Austintown-Fitch High School and winning a National Amatuer Baseball Federation Championship in 2016. He was primarily a position player for the Lakers over his first two years, hitting .316 as a freshman and starting 20 games as a sophomore. Then he made 20 relief appearances as a junior and recorded four saves, two of which came in playoff games. 

The reliever will join the Eagles on the heels of a brief 2020 stint that saw him strike out 10 batters and allow just one extra-base hit over 7.1 innings pitched. Kapturasky is also very familiar with Biola recruiting coordinator CJ Baker and is thankful that the previous connection has helped him join another team that is primed to make a playoff run. 

"Coach CJ Baker coached me in Hornell, New York during the summer of 2017. We had an amazing summer season and stayed in touch up until this point," said Kapturasky. "[Coming to Biola] was a fantastic opportunity for me to challenge myself and create new experiences, so I am thankful to be part of the Biola Baseball family."
 
Academically, Kapturasky was a four-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference scholar-athlete and graduated from Mercyhurst with a degree in athletic training and exercise science. He hopes to be an athletic trainer and strength coach in professional baseball in the future and will be one of two grad transfers on Biola Baseball's roster who are beginning masters in business administration this fall. 
 
More information on the incoming 2020-21 class that will join him at Jared Kapturasky can be found on the Committed Athletes page.