Zach Bushling

Photo by: Colby Rush

Photo by: Colby Rush

UConn vs Boston College at Elliot Ballpark, March 30, 2021

Photo by: Stephen Slade

UConn vs CCSU at Elliot Ballpark March 23, 2021

Photo by: Stephen Slade

Position:
Infielder
Height:
5-7
Weight:
176
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Lake Isabella, Calif.
Prev School:
Sierra College
High School:
Kern Valley

2022 Season: Started all 66 games on the left side of the infield for the Huskies. Hit .278 with 51 runs scored, 17 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 47 runs batted in. Added nine stolen bases and 27 walks. Was fourth on the team with 12 multi-RBI games and fifth on the squad with 20 multi-hit efforts. Started the season hitting safely in 19 of the first 20 games that featured season-long 13 game hit streak (2/18-3/26). Had a four-hit game with a two-run homer in a victory against Louisville (2/20). Homered in second-straight game to help take series opener at UNF (2/25). Hit go-ahead sacrifice fly in 10th inning at UNF (2/27) to secure series sweep for Huskies. Smacked a bases-clearing double at Kent State to lift Huskies to series opening win (4/1). Registered a pair of home runs and six RBI in a victory against CCSU (4/5) with one of the home runs traveling over the CF batter's eye at Elliot Ballpark. Followed it up with a home run the next day against Merrimack (4/6). Posted a three-hit effort with three runs scored against Marist (4/12) at Dunkin' Donuts Park. Had back-to-back three hit games at Seton Hall (4/16) and against UMass (4/19) with four runs scored against the Minutemen. Big two-run single in the 10th inning at Northeastern (4/26) to help Huskies win in extras. Back-to-back multi-hit efforts to open the Butler series with a pair of wins (4/29-30). Hit two-run homer at No. 15 Maryland in College Park Regional winner''s bracket game (6/4). Had a pair of hits against No. 2 Stanford in Game 1 victory of Super Regionals. Homered and singled in his final two collegiate at bats in Game 3 of Stanford Super Regional.

2021 Season: Started in all 52 that he played in 2021 at shortstop. Collected 48 hits including eight doubles, three triples, four home runs and 26 RBIs while tied for second on the team with 45 runs scored, 25 walks and ranked second with 10 stolen bases. His 45 runs ranked second in the BIG EAST. Added eight multi-hit games. Was hitting a season-high .317 after the first 16 games of the season. Went 2-4 with two home runs, two RBIs and five runs scored against Coastal Carolina (3/8). Helped the Huskies secure a series win at St. Joseph's (3/21) with a 4-4 day at the plate with four runs scored. Went 2-5 with three RBIs including the first inside-the-park homer at brand new Elliot Ballpark vs. UMass (4/3). Provided the go-ahead safety squeeze RBI vs. Xavier (4/26) in the 12th inning of a 15-13 come-from-behind victory. Bushling provided two hits and three RBIs in the comeback effort. Game-tying RBI double in the 8th and go-ahead bases loaded walk in the 10th at St. John's (5/9) to lift Huskies to winning three-of-four against the Johnnies. Went 1-2 with a home run against Seton Hall (5/22) to clinch the BIG EAST regular season title at Elliot Ballpark.Went 1-3 with a double and pair of RBIs vs. Xavier (5/30) in BIG EAST Championship.

2020 Season: Started in all 13 games in season shortened by Covid-19. Made starts at shortstop, third base and second base. Hit .286 and led the team with seven walks. Added nine runs scored, a pair of doubles and three stolen bases while leading off in all 13 games. Hit safely in 11 games and finished the year reaching base in 12-straight games. Had an eight-game hit streak from Feb.15 - March 1. Recorded four multi-hit efforts including a three-hit game at Presbyterian (3/7) that included a season-high four runs scored.

Transfer from Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif.

Before UConn: Played at Sierra College for two seasons. 2018 Big 8 Conference Honorable Mention Infield. 2019 Big 8 Conference First Team Infield. 2019 California JUCO All-Academic team. Played in 84 career games, hit .307 with 24 doubles, seven triples, three home runs, 44 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and 100 hits.

High School: Lettered in baseball, basketball and football at Kern Valley High School in Lake Isabella, Calif. 2017 CalHi Sports Athlete of the Year. Set single season school records in batting average (.656), Home Runs (9) and RBIs (51). He also set career school records in batting average (.579), hits (146) and RBIs (149). Two-time CalHi First Team All-State. 2017 Max Preps California All-State Infielder. Four-time All-League infielder. High Desert League MVP in 2016 and 2017. Antelope Valley 2017 All-Star Game MVP. On the hardwood, set career school records in points (1.342), three-pointers made (128), assists (422) and steals (334). All-High Desert First Team (PG). Helped lead team to 2016 CIF DIV 5 champions. On the gridiron, played quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, punter and kicker during his four seasons. Won High Desert League Offensive Player of the Year. Won 940 ESPN CIF Central Section Punter of the Year. Set high school record with 27 career made field goals.

Personal: Zach Bushling. Parents are Kenny and Marcie. Has two brothers, Oliver and Trey, and two sisters, Jayda and Tayah. Majoring in applied resource economics.