University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
University of South Florida
HookC Starts 2022 Season at USF Baseball Invitational
2/17/2022 6:39:00 PM | Baseball
WATCH | LISTEN | GAME NOTES
TAMPA, Fla. – The UConn baseball team opens the 2022 season in the USF Baseball Invitational with Opening Day starting against 2021 Super Regional participant USF on Friday, February 18 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. The Huskies will then face off against 2021 Greenville Regional participant Charlotte on Saturday, February 19 at 12 p.m. and perennial College World Series contender Louisville on Sunday, February 20 at 9 a.m.
UConn is coming off a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021 with a 34-19 overall record. The Huskies captured both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament crowns in their first season back in the league since 2013.
The Huskies return All-BIG EAST Second Team RHP Austin Peterson (7-1, 2.58 ERA) and All-BIG EAST First Team OF Erik Stock (.364, 6 HR, 34 RBI). The Huskies also return RHP Pat Gallagher (10 GS, 5-2, 61 K) third baseman Chris Brown (.296, 5 HR, 38 RBI), shortstop Zach Bushling (.372 OBP, 10 SB, 45 R), second baseman Christian Fedko (.295, 15 2B, 29 RBI) and RHP Justin Willis (16 APP, 2.60 ERA, 4-0, 1 SV).
UConn welcomes newcomers RHP Enzo Stefanoni (Harvard), OF Casey Dana (Seton Hall), RHP Cole Chudoba (Assumption), C Matt Donlan (Stonehill), INF/OF David Smith (LaSalle), 1B/LHP Ben Huber (Limestone) C Matt Garbowski (Freshman), RHP Ian Cooke (Freshman), RHP Jack Sullivan (Freshman).
Since the 2010 season, the Huskies rank in the top-35 in the country in NCAA Tournament appearances (7), total wins (413) and NCAA Tournament wins (13).
The Huskies will square off against old conference foes in USF (BIG EAST/American) and Louisville (BIG EAST/American) for the first time since 2019.
UConn opened the 2019 campaign with a series win against No. 4 Louisville in Lakeland, Fla. Overall, the Huskies are 12-19 against the Cardinals.
The Bulls captured a series win by sweeping the Huskies in a doubleheader to close out J.O. Christian Field era. The Huskies are 29-35 all-time against USF.
Head coach Jim Penders enters his 19th season leading the Huskies and is joined by Chris Podezswa (19 seasons), Josh MacDonald (11 seasons) and Jeff Hourigan (11 seasons). The UConn coaching staff is the longest tenured staff in the country.
All three games will be streamed on MIXLR with Chris Jones on the call.
