While the frigid temperatures and heaps of snow on campus may suggest otherwise, the Washington University baseball team will lead off its season this weekend. Fortunately for the Bears, the team will escape the freezing Midwest and travel down South to balmy Jackson, Miss., to play three games against Fontbonne University, Southwestern University and host Millsaps College.

Then-junior infielder Zack Kessinger takes a swing on March 23 against Concordia University. Kessinger led the Bears in batting average (.387) and RBIs (40) last season and is looking to provide both offensive firepower and veteran leadership for the team in 2015.

After barely missing the postseason the past two seasons, the Red and Green hope to take the first step this weekend toward attaining their goal of an NCAA Division III tournament berth.

Here’s a breakdown of a few key things to know before the Red and Green’s baseball season gets into full swing.

Last season

Last year may as well have been broken up into two seasons. After beginning the 2014 campaign with an 11-14 record, the Bears’ postseason hopes seemed to be all but over, especially after a demoralizing 23-7 home loss to Webster University. Also, Wash. U. finished a meager 4-4 at the University Athletic Association Championships and were just 1-3 against ranked opponents.

However, the Bears reeled off 17 wins in their last 19 games, including a 4-2 victory against No. 2 Webster, to finish with a 28-16 overall record and position themselves for an at-large bid—but the Red and Green still narrowly missed the playoffs. Senior pitcher Max Zhang believes the late-season run demonstrated the team’s potential, but he emphasized that the Bears aren’t overconfident coming into this season because of the way they finished last year.

“Even though we finished the season strong, we were ultimately disappointed in not making the playoffs. I think the general consensus is that we are starting fresh this year and not taking anything we have done in the past for granted,” Zhang said.

Offense

With seven starters returning, the Bears’ offense, which averaged 6.43 runs per game last season, is shaping up to be the team’s strength. Senior Zack Kessinger returns after leading the team in batting average (.387) and RBIs (40) while senior Chris Lowery (.359 batting average, team-high 13 doubles) will team up with Kessinger to provide veteran leadership at the plate.

Not everyone will be returning, though, as a team that was light on power hitting will be without its best power hitter in Andrew Dwoskin, who belted three of the team’s seven home runs last season. As a result, senior Brandon Deger (.321 BA, two homers) may be tasked with filling the void.

The Bears struggled to record extra-base hits, too, as just over 78 percent of the team’s hits were singles, so Wash. U. may have to rely on small ball to get runs across the plates, with senior Andrew Goldstick (22 for 22 on stolen bases) returning as the primary threat on the basepaths.

Pitching

Without ace starting pitcher Stephen Bonser (4-1, 3.42 ERA) and wins leader Nick Gollin (8-1, 1.58 ERA), the Bears will have to depend on a few unproven pitchers to bolster the starting rotation and bullpen.

Senior Kunal Patel (4-1, 2.81 ERA) is the most successful starting pitcher to return while Zhang (0-2, 5.67 ERA) and senior Dom Quaranta (2-4, 4.36 ERA) also make their return to the rotation. To round out the starting staff, players like sophomores Brad Margolin (3-1, 1.83 ERA) and Scott Nelson (0-1, 1.47 ERA) are coming off successful campaigns in the bullpen and may have to transition into starting pitcher roles.

“Obviously with Gollin and Bonser gone, we will have to spread out the innings among new arms. However, I am confident in the young talent on the team,” Zhang said. “Margolin and Nelson already proved themselves with great seasons last year, and both will have a chance to see starts.”

With nine games against ranked opponents this season, the starting rotation will surely be tested. The Bears will have to depend on their core of upperclassmen on the mound and at the plate if the team hopes to secure its first postseason berth in three years.