Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0) at HBU Huskies (0-0)
Husky Field – Houston
Watch: ESPN+ (
Russ Reneau)
Live Stats
Game Notes
Game Program
Probable Pitchers
Friday, Feb. 18 - 2 p.m.
RHP
Daxton Tinker (HBU) vs. LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (RU)
Saturday, Feb. 19 - 1 p.m.
RHP
Ethan Abbott (HBU) vs. RHP Jared Kollar (RU)
Sunday, Feb. 20 - 12:30 p.m.
RHP
Jared Burch (HBU) vs. RHP Nathan Florence (RU)
HOUSTON - HBU will open its first season under new head coach
Lance Berkman when it hosts Rutgers Friday through Sunday at Husky Field. The series will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with
Russ Reneau.
The Huskies are likely to send out a starting rotation of righthanders
Daxton Tinker,
Ethan Abbott and
Jared Burch. HBU also returns its closer, senior righthander
Andrew Reitmeyer.
HBU returns eight position starters from last season, led by junior first baseman
Brennen Bales, who was preseason all-conference second-team selection. Bales ranked fifth in the Southland Conference last year with a .356 batting average with eight doubles, two home runs, two triples, 22 RBIs and 23 runs. Senior infielder
Jake Miller and sophomore infielder
Sebastian Trinidad also return, along with senior outfielders
Lane Botkin, who ranked second in the league in stolen bases, and
Christian Dumont. Junior shortstop
Diego Davila, junior third baseman
Reed Chumley, junior infielder/outfielder
Austin Roccaforte, outfielder
Logan Letney and catcher
Tyler LaRue are a few of the 23 newcomers who figure to factor prominently into the Huskies' lineup.
Rutgers is expected to start lefthander Brian Fitzpatrick in Friday's opener, followed by righthanders Jared Kollar and Nathan Florence.
The Scarlet Knights return their leading hitter in infielder/outfielder Mike Nyisztor, who hit .351 with six doubles, a pair of home runs, 14 RBIs and 28 runs in 2021. Third baseman Chris Brito hit .302 with 10 home runs, eight doubles, 43 RBIs and 33 runs. Outfielder Richie Schiekofer batted .316 with 12 doubles, a home run, 21 RBIs and 30 runs, while outfielder Ryan Lasko hit .231 with 11 home runs, five doubles, 30 RBIs and 28 runs.
The Huskies are 18-14 all-time in season openers. The series marks the first meeting between HBU and Rutgers and the first of six scheduled meetings against a Big Ten opponent, with another three-game set slated at Michigan State March 18-20.
HBU travels to face Baylor Tuesday in Waco, before returning for a four-game homestand, beginning with Rice on Wednesday, followed by a three-game series against Hofstra on the weekend.
