Recruited for Denver in 2014
During his college search in 2014, Baptiste initially considered attending an NCAA Division III school. He had planned to play for the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, until the University of Denver called. In March, Baptiste took a late-season recruiting visit to Denver, Colorado, and he signed an intent to play for the Pioneers in April.[13]
Denver named Baptiste their new face-off specialist. Taking over the position from junior Chris Hampton.[18] In October, Baptiste dominated face-offs in the Pioneers' exhibition game against the defending champion Denver Outlaws. He won 76.9% of his face-offs to drive Denver's 15–7 victory over the Major League Lacrosse team.[19]
2015 season
Making his season debut, Baptiste dominated face-offs in Denver's season-opening victory over the defending champion Duke Blue Devils. He won 73.5% of his face-off attempts. Baptiste's 25 face-off wins came close to tying the Pioneers' record for face-off wins in a game (26). The Big East Conference and NCAA.com both named Baptiste their offensive player of the week.[19]
During the 2015 season, Baptiste ranked sixth in ground balls per game in the Big East Conference. He led the conference and the nation in face-off win percentage. Baptiste scored seven goals and notched five assists.[20] During a game against the Providence Friars, Baptiste won 91.7% of his face-offs to guide the Pioneers' comeback victory.[21] In May, he went 73.1% in face-offs in Denver's 16–8 defeat of the Georgetown Hoyas to capture the Big East tournament championship.[22]
Baptiste's overall performances during his rookie season earned him the nickname "The Beast".[23] The Big East Conference awarded him their 2015 Midfielder of the Year Award and named him to First Team All-Big East.[24] Baptiste was the only freshman named among the 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Trophy for the top lacrosse player announced on April 23, 2015.[25] In May, the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) named him a First Team All-American.[26] Baptiste was one of seven Pioneers selected for the All-American Team, the most in school history.[27] Connor Cannizzaro and he were only the second and third Pioneers to achieve DI First Team All-America honors in school history.[26] Baptiste was also the first freshman selected as a First Team All American since 2001.
In his first playoff game, Baptiste went only 42% in face-offs in a victory over the Brown Bears.[28] Reaching the quarterfinals, he rebounded against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Baptiste won 13 of his final 23 face-offs (56.5%) to help drive a comeback win by Denver to reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four.[29] In the semi-finals, he exerted greater dominance in face-offs against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Baptiste won 15 of his 24 face-offs (62.5%) to power Denver's overtime victory to reach the championship final.[30] He reached the milestone of 300 face-off wins in the victory. Baptiste's 24 face-off attempts also advanced him higher among all-time DI players making 400 or more face-off attempts in a season. His 437 face-off attempts in 2015 trailed only past performances by Duke's Brendan Fowler, Albany's Kevin Klueckert, and Bryant's Kevin Massa.[31]
In the NCAA DI Tournament Final, Baptiste won 10 out of 19 face-offs (52.6%) against the Maryland Terrapins. His performance helped drive the Pioneers to the championship victory, the first in school history and the first west of the Appalachian Mountains.[32] The NCAA named Baptiste and teammates Ryan LaPlante, Zach Miller, Mike Riis, and Wesley Berg to the All-Tournament Team. Berg won the Tournament's Most Valuable Player Award.[33]
Baptiste finished the 2015 season with 310 face-off wins out of 456 attempts (68.0%) and 140 ground balls. This marked the fourth best season in face-off wins in DI college lacrosse history. Following the season, Sports Illustrated featured Baptiste for their article on the art of face-offs.[34] In June, Lacrosse Magazine selected Baptiste as one of their 13 Year-End All-Americans.[35]
