Biography
2019 Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll
2019 Preseason All-Southland Conference (1st Team)
2018 Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll
2018 LSWA All-Louisiana (1st Team)
2018 Southland All-Academic (2nd Team)
2018 All-Southland Conference (2nd Team)
2018 LSWAÂ Pitcher of the Month (February)
2017 Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll
2018 [R-JUNIOR]: All-Conference, All-State and Southland All-Academic performer appeared in 16 games, starting 14 … compiled a 7-1 record, and one save, with a team-leading 2.68 ERA in 87.2 innings pitched … struck out 73 and walked just 13 batters for a 5.6 K/BB ratio, leading a staff that finished seventh in the nation (3.08) … issued a team-low 1.34 BB/9 on a staff that allowed the third-fewest BB/9 in the nation (2.47) … allowed 70 hits as opponents hit .221 off the right-hander … led team in wins, ERA and strikeouts … Lions were 12-2 in his 14 starts … recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in his first start of the season, scattering three hits in 8.1 innings to defeat No. 20-ranked UL Lafayette (Feb. 21) … followed that performance with a win against No. 14-ranked LSU (Feb. 28), allowing one run in seven innings … named the Louisiana Pitcher of the Month (February) by the LSWA in recognition of his pair of wins over ranked teams … also earned wins over New Orleans (March 10), Lamar (March 17), McNeese (March 31), Northwestern State (April 14) and Nicholls (April 21) … allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his 14 starts …  … spent the summer pitching for the Orleans Firebirds in the prestigious Cape Cod League ... member of the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
2017 [R-SOPHOMORE]: Appeared in 17 games, starting 13 … compiled a 4-5 record to go along with one save and a 5.03 ERA in 68 innings of work … struck out 56 batters, walking 29 … opponents hit .221 (60 hits) off the right-hander … picked up his lone save at Rice (2/24), tossing three scoreless innings … earned first win in relief against New Orleans (3/11) … had a 2.45 ERA out of the bullpen (11 innings) … worked five innings at No. 17-ranked Vanderbilt in his first start … earned wins against Nicholls (4/23), Stephen F. Austin (4/30) and Central Arkansas (5/14) … named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
2016 [R-FRESHMAN]: Earned All-Region and All-State honors after leading Hinds CC with a 10-3 record and three saves … compiled a 2.95 ERA, fanning 63 batters in 55 innings pitched … appeared in 25 games … named MACJC Pitcher of the Week after earning win against Northwest Mississippi CC, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings and fanning seven batters.
2015 [FRESHMAN]: Spent the 2015 season as a redshirt at Hinds under Sam Temple … signed with Southeastern during the fall 2015 early signing period … named to Phi Theta Kappa, the national two-year honor society, and to Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges for his work in the classroom ... played summer baseball for Pawleys Island (S.C.) in the Beach Collegiate Baseball League (BCBL), where he helped lead the Manowars to the 2015 BCBL championship.
HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Warren Central High School under Conner Douglas … two-sport standout and four-year letterman at WC in baseball and football … All-State second team, All-District and All-County selection in baseball as a pitcher and infielder after career marks in batting average (.359), RBI (45), on-base percentage (.467) and slugging percentage (.447) … chosen as the Warren County Player of the Year and was twice given the Best Pitcher Award at WCHS after finishing with a 14-4 record, 1.86 ERA, four shutouts, 98 strikeouts and only 38 walks in his career … All-District and All-County selection in football, where he threw for over 3,700 yards as a record-setting quarterback … offensive MVP Award winner and was chosen as the Wendy’s Heisman Award winner at WCHS … member and vice-president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta … claimed the Norseman Award and was a Red Carpet Bowl and ACT scholarship winner.
PERSONAL: Born Benjamin Carlisle Koestler in Vicksburg, Mississippi … son of Michael and Carla Koestler … has an older sister, Katie … mother played basketball at Mississippi University for Women … sister played basketball at Mississippi College … grandfather, W.C. Carlisle, played basketball at Hinds CC … enjoys working out and playing video games … majoring in kinesiology.
