Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Hailey Pettit-Mastroianni, BGSU Athletics
BGSU Baseball Welcomes Seven Transfers Ahead Of 2026 Campaign
August 11, 2025 | Baseball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball program will welcome seven transfers to the team for the 2026 campaign. Over the summer, the Falcons added sophomore right-handed pitcher Chase Clatur, junior right-handed pitcher Andrew Heffernan, junior outfielder Pauly Mancino, redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Ethan Papacek, redshirt junior infielder Vinny Salvione, redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Ethan Stade and junior catcher Lance Vickers.
Chase Clatur, RHP, Sophomore
Clatur comes to Bowling Green after spending his freshman season at Murray State where he made three appearances on the bump. A 6-foot-2 right-handed hurler, Clatur totaled 2.2 innings of work while striking out two for the Racers. A native of Nolensville, Tenn., he was a three-time District 12-4A All-District honoree at Nolensville High School. He was named to the Rawlings Perfect Game Preseason All-Region Team and earned Class 4A All-State recognition his senior year. Over his three seasons with the Knights, he posted an 11-3 record with 182 strikeouts through 124.2 innings of work.
Andrew Heffernan, RHP, Junior
Heffernan will join the Falcons with two years of eligibility remaining. A native of South Portland, Maine, Heffernan has spent the last two seasons with Merrimack College. A 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher, Heffernan is coming off a season where he made 12 starts for Merrimack, totaling 76.1 innings of work. He finished the season with a 4.60 ERA and 41 strikeouts. As for the 2024 campaign, Heffernan made 14 appearances with 12 starts, posting a 4-2 record over 73.1 innings pitched. He struck out 52 batters and walked just 16 while also contributing to a no-hitter.
In addition to his presence on the mound, Heffernan has also stepped into the batter's box as a two-way player. Over his two seasons, he's logged 18 at-bats, knocking four hits, three RBI and a run scored while drawing two walks. As for his time in high school, Heffernan was named the Maine Baseball Player of the Year while also becoming a two-time baseball State Champion and a two-time basketball State Champion.
Pauly Mancino, OF, Junior
Mancio joins the Falcons with two years of MAC competition under his belt, coming to BGSU from Ohio. Over the last two years in Athens, Mancino appeared in 71 games with 66 starts for the Bobcats. In 2025, he posted a .302 batting average while logging 24 runs scored, 22 RBI, eight doubles, two triples and a home run. He added 15 walks and seven stolen bases to his stat line for the season. As for the 2024 campaign, Mancino belted six home runs while registering 23 runs scored and 17 RBI in addition to 13 walks and seven stolen bases.
A native of Westlake, Ohio, Mancino went to Saint Ignatius High School. A 5-foot-11 outfielder, he hit .427 during his 2022 season, knocking 41 hits, including 21 extra-base hits and five home runs. He was named the team's Rookie of the Year his junior year and captained the team his senior season. Mancino also comes from a baseball family. His father, Paul, played college baseball at Northwestern.
Ethan Papacek, RHP, Redshirt Junior
Papacek will come to BGSU with two years of eligibility remaining. He began his collegiate career at Sacred Heart in 2023 before redshirting in 2024. In 2025, he played for Lansing Community College. A native of Rochester, Mich., Papacek made two appearances for Sacred Heart in 2023, totaling 1.2 innings of work with a strikeout before having his season cut short due to injury.
For Lansing CC, Papacek made nine appearances, including seven starts while posting a 4-0 record on the mound. He totaled 29.1 innings of work while striking out 38 batters and maintaining a 3.07 ERA. His season included a six-inning start against Bryant & Stratton where he didn't allow a hit and struck out 10 batters, claiming a win in the 4-2 final.
Vinny Salvione, INF, Redshirt Junior
Salvione will join the Falcons after an impressive summer campaign with the Bend Elks in the West Coast League. Appearing in 39 games, Salvione registered 33 hits, including five doubles and a home run. He added 17 RBI and 17 runs scored to his summer stat line while drawing 13 walks and swiping six bases. As for the 2024 summer season with Bend, Salvione appeared in 47 games, hitting .287 with 48 hits, including seven doubles and two home runs. He completed his stat line with 25 runs scored, 18 RBI, 17 walks and 23 stolen bases.
He began his collegiate career at Portland, playing two seasons for the Pilots. A 6-foot infielder from Milwaukie, Ore., Salvione played in 11 games for Portland. In 19 at-bats, he posted four hits, four RBI, a double and a run scored, including a .250 average as a freshman in 2023. Prior to his time at Portland, Salvione played for Rex Putnam High School. He hit over .400 during his high school career, earning All-NWOC First Team honors.
Ethan Stade, LHP, Redshirt Senior
Stade will don the Orange and Brown after sporting the purple and gold of Minnesota State for the last four seasons, including a redshirt year as a freshman in 2022. A 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher, Stade made 35 bullpen appearances over the last three years for the Mavericks, making at least 10 appearances in each season. For his career, he posted a 6.02 ERA and 1-2 record to go along with two saves. Over 40.1 innings of work, he struck out 50 batters for Minnesota State.
Stade is coming off a summer with the Willmar Stingers in the Northwoods League. Making six appearances for the Stingers, Stade has posted a 3-0 record, going at least five innings in five of his six outings. In total, he racked up 30 innings of work while striking out 43 batters in the process and maintaining a 1.50 ERA. As for his high school days, Stade posted an 8-1 record as a senior, registering 60 strikeouts while leading New Ulm to a conference title. He concluded the campaign with a 1.10 ERA over 47.1 innings and earned All-Conference honors in addition to being the New Ulm Sports Journal Player of the Year.
Lance Vickers, C, Junior
Vickers will arrive in Bowling Green after spending his freshman season at Garrett Community College in McHenry, Md. and his sophomore season at Allen Community College in Iola, Kan. A 5-foot-11 catcher, Vickers is coming off a 2025 campaign that included 30 games played for Allen CC. Vickers slashed .263/.400/.463 for the Red Devils, including five doubles, a triple and three home runs. He added 21 RBI and 13 runs scored to his stat line while drawing 13 walks.
As for his time at Garrett CC, the Jefferson Hills, Pa. native appeared in 39 games for the Lakers. He finished the 2024 season with a .298/.390/.383 slash line, including a double, two triples and a home run. His stat line included 22 runs scored, 20 RBI and 16 walks drawn.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' baseball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_Baseball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsu_baseball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcons Athletics'
Chase Clatur, RHP, Sophomore
Clatur comes to Bowling Green after spending his freshman season at Murray State where he made three appearances on the bump. A 6-foot-2 right-handed hurler, Clatur totaled 2.2 innings of work while striking out two for the Racers. A native of Nolensville, Tenn., he was a three-time District 12-4A All-District honoree at Nolensville High School. He was named to the Rawlings Perfect Game Preseason All-Region Team and earned Class 4A All-State recognition his senior year. Over his three seasons with the Knights, he posted an 11-3 record with 182 strikeouts through 124.2 innings of work.
Andrew Heffernan, RHP, Junior
Heffernan will join the Falcons with two years of eligibility remaining. A native of South Portland, Maine, Heffernan has spent the last two seasons with Merrimack College. A 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher, Heffernan is coming off a season where he made 12 starts for Merrimack, totaling 76.1 innings of work. He finished the season with a 4.60 ERA and 41 strikeouts. As for the 2024 campaign, Heffernan made 14 appearances with 12 starts, posting a 4-2 record over 73.1 innings pitched. He struck out 52 batters and walked just 16 while also contributing to a no-hitter.
In addition to his presence on the mound, Heffernan has also stepped into the batter's box as a two-way player. Over his two seasons, he's logged 18 at-bats, knocking four hits, three RBI and a run scored while drawing two walks. As for his time in high school, Heffernan was named the Maine Baseball Player of the Year while also becoming a two-time baseball State Champion and a two-time basketball State Champion.
Pauly Mancino, OF, Junior
Mancio joins the Falcons with two years of MAC competition under his belt, coming to BGSU from Ohio. Over the last two years in Athens, Mancino appeared in 71 games with 66 starts for the Bobcats. In 2025, he posted a .302 batting average while logging 24 runs scored, 22 RBI, eight doubles, two triples and a home run. He added 15 walks and seven stolen bases to his stat line for the season. As for the 2024 campaign, Mancino belted six home runs while registering 23 runs scored and 17 RBI in addition to 13 walks and seven stolen bases.
A native of Westlake, Ohio, Mancino went to Saint Ignatius High School. A 5-foot-11 outfielder, he hit .427 during his 2022 season, knocking 41 hits, including 21 extra-base hits and five home runs. He was named the team's Rookie of the Year his junior year and captained the team his senior season. Mancino also comes from a baseball family. His father, Paul, played college baseball at Northwestern.
Ethan Papacek, RHP, Redshirt Junior
Papacek will come to BGSU with two years of eligibility remaining. He began his collegiate career at Sacred Heart in 2023 before redshirting in 2024. In 2025, he played for Lansing Community College. A native of Rochester, Mich., Papacek made two appearances for Sacred Heart in 2023, totaling 1.2 innings of work with a strikeout before having his season cut short due to injury.
For Lansing CC, Papacek made nine appearances, including seven starts while posting a 4-0 record on the mound. He totaled 29.1 innings of work while striking out 38 batters and maintaining a 3.07 ERA. His season included a six-inning start against Bryant & Stratton where he didn't allow a hit and struck out 10 batters, claiming a win in the 4-2 final.
Vinny Salvione, INF, Redshirt Junior
Salvione will join the Falcons after an impressive summer campaign with the Bend Elks in the West Coast League. Appearing in 39 games, Salvione registered 33 hits, including five doubles and a home run. He added 17 RBI and 17 runs scored to his summer stat line while drawing 13 walks and swiping six bases. As for the 2024 summer season with Bend, Salvione appeared in 47 games, hitting .287 with 48 hits, including seven doubles and two home runs. He completed his stat line with 25 runs scored, 18 RBI, 17 walks and 23 stolen bases.
He began his collegiate career at Portland, playing two seasons for the Pilots. A 6-foot infielder from Milwaukie, Ore., Salvione played in 11 games for Portland. In 19 at-bats, he posted four hits, four RBI, a double and a run scored, including a .250 average as a freshman in 2023. Prior to his time at Portland, Salvione played for Rex Putnam High School. He hit over .400 during his high school career, earning All-NWOC First Team honors.
Ethan Stade, LHP, Redshirt Senior
Stade will don the Orange and Brown after sporting the purple and gold of Minnesota State for the last four seasons, including a redshirt year as a freshman in 2022. A 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher, Stade made 35 bullpen appearances over the last three years for the Mavericks, making at least 10 appearances in each season. For his career, he posted a 6.02 ERA and 1-2 record to go along with two saves. Over 40.1 innings of work, he struck out 50 batters for Minnesota State.
Stade is coming off a summer with the Willmar Stingers in the Northwoods League. Making six appearances for the Stingers, Stade has posted a 3-0 record, going at least five innings in five of his six outings. In total, he racked up 30 innings of work while striking out 43 batters in the process and maintaining a 1.50 ERA. As for his high school days, Stade posted an 8-1 record as a senior, registering 60 strikeouts while leading New Ulm to a conference title. He concluded the campaign with a 1.10 ERA over 47.1 innings and earned All-Conference honors in addition to being the New Ulm Sports Journal Player of the Year.
Lance Vickers, C, Junior
Vickers will arrive in Bowling Green after spending his freshman season at Garrett Community College in McHenry, Md. and his sophomore season at Allen Community College in Iola, Kan. A 5-foot-11 catcher, Vickers is coming off a 2025 campaign that included 30 games played for Allen CC. Vickers slashed .263/.400/.463 for the Red Devils, including five doubles, a triple and three home runs. He added 21 RBI and 13 runs scored to his stat line while drawing 13 walks.
As for his time at Garrett CC, the Jefferson Hills, Pa. native appeared in 39 games for the Lakers. He finished the 2024 season with a .298/.390/.383 slash line, including a double, two triples and a home run. His stat line included 22 runs scored, 20 RBI and 16 walks drawn.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' baseball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_Baseball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsu_baseball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcons Athletics'
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