University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Baseball Announces 2012 Schedule; Blue Hens Open Season at Houston
10/31/2011 1:43:00 PM | Baseball
The Blue Hens finished a game out of the Colonial Athletic Association playoff bracket last season after leading the pack until the final two conference weekends of the year. The 2011 squad collected a 27-26 overall record and a 16-14 CAA record, surpassing the 20-win mark for the 39th straight season.
This year's the team will be led by returning starters Nick Ferdinand (.312, 8 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 30 RBI), DJ Long (.298, 20 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 24 RBI), EJ Stoltzfus (.331, 4 2B, 17 RBI) and Chris Branigan (.245, 6 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI) at the plate, and return a bulk of its pitching staff.
Eric Young (5-2, 4.00 ERA, 72 IP, 40 SO, 20 BB) returns as the likely number one starter, but will be pressured by a pair of young arms in Chad Kuhl and Danny Gatto once again. Corey Crispell, Devon Pearson, Eric Buckland and Matt Soren will all be pushing for a starting role while all seven possible weekend starters add much needed depth in the bullpen. Steve Richter (nine saves) and Jeff Murray (3.19 ERA, 28 appearances, 42.1 innings, 31 SO) will look to continue to anchor the back end of the pen in 2012.
To open the season, the Blue Hens will head to the University of Houston for a three-game set from February 17-19. The team will then square off against The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. for a four-game series starting on February 23.
Delaware opens its 2012 home schedule in the beginning of March as Fairfield comes to Bob Hannah Stadium for a four-game set. March also begins the CAA schedule for the Hens as they open the conference slate on the road against Old Dominion on March 9.
The CAA home schedule begins on March 16 for the Blue Hens as they welcome in UNCW for a three-game set, before squaring off against Towson at home the following weekend.
This season, Delaware will also host Virginia Commonwealth, Hofstra, and Northeastern in conference play. Among the CAA road trips will be a visit to defending league champion and NCAA Tournament participant James Madison on March 30 through April 1.
The team will also take place in the annual Liberty Bell Classic, pitting the best surrounding Philadelphia area schools against each other. For the first round, the Hens will head to Lehigh on March 27 and, if they are able to advance, will host the second round. Delaware made its way to the championship round last season, falling to Villanova, 7-6, played at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The CAA returns the playoff format to six teams this year after consisting of four teams the past two seasons. James Madison will host the 2012 and 2013 Virginia 529 CAA Baseball Championships as all games will be played on Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Va. This year's tournament will begin on May 23.
