Junior (2012):

Bitanga emerged as one of Division III's top closers during the 2012 campaign, finishing the year ranked eighth in the nation with nine saves, and 43rd with a 1.88 earned run average.  He earned spots on the ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region second team, the D3Baseball.com All-South Region third team, and the all-University Athletic Association (UAA) first team.  After just two seasons on the team, he is the program's all-time leader with 17 career saves, a mark he set with his ninth save of the season on April 28th against Oglethorpe University.  His nine saves during the year tied him for the second most in a single campaign in Emory history.  Bitanga also ranks second in school history for career ERA (2.04), walks per nine innings (1.72) and games finished (41).  Leading all Eagle pitchers with 20 appearances and finishing fourth on the squad with 43 innings pitched, Bitanga's ERA was the lowest on the team during the year (and the 12th-lowest in a single season in Emory history).  He was 5-0, while allowing just 38 hits and 10 walks, striking out 32 batters and holding opponents to a .239 batting average.  The righty did not allow an earned run in 15 of his 20 appearances in 2012.  In three games against Birmingham-Southern College, which finished the season ranked 10th in Division III, Bitanga did not allow an earned run through 8.2 innings, allowing just six hits and no walks, while striking out seven and going 1-0 with a save.  During the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships, he appeared in four of the eight games, recording a save in each appearance and allowing just one run on four hits through 7.2 innings.  He pitched the final inning and two thirds of a 2-0 win over Washington University (Mo.) on March 16th to earn a save and clinch the UAA Title for the Eagles.  Bitanga was named the UAA Athlete of the Week on February 13th and 20th.

Sophomore (2011):

During his first season on the team, Bitanga earned a spot on the all-University Athletic Association (UAA) Second Team, based on his performance as Emory's closer during the season.  His eight saves in 2011 ranked him 19th among NCAA Division III players, in addition to being the third-most in a single season by an Emory pitcher, and tied him for the sixth-most for a career in the program's history.  Bitanga set a school record with 22 games finished in 2011, while his 24 appearances were the third-most by an Eagle in a single season, and his 1.33 walks per game ratio was the sixth lowest in the program's history.  He recorded a 2.21 ERA over 40.2 innings pitched (giving him the second-lowest career ERA for Emory pitchers with over 40 innings pitched), while going 3-3 with 22 strikeouts and just six walks, and allowing opponents a .269 batting average against.  Bitanga was named to the all-UAA Tournament Team after appearing in three of the six games and earning two saves and a win, while not allowing an earned run on eight hits through seven innings.

Career Statistics:

Click here for complete career statistics.

Honors:

Prior to Emory:

Transferred from St. Mary's College in Maryland, where he played on the baseball team for one year... Made 12 appearances in 2010, all out of the bullpen, going 2-1 with a 4.58 earned run average and one save... Also pitched for the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League, where he was coached by Jeff Rabberman... Was an all-star, leading the league with six saves... Played on the Our Lady of Good Counsel High School team for four seasons.

Personal:

Born January 18, 1991.

Quote:

"I chose Emory for the opportunity to study at one of the most respected business schools, and a chance to win a Division III National Championship."