University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Announces 2013 Schedule; Blue Hens Open Season at Wright State University Tournament
12/20/2012 9:31:00 PM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware baseball team will look to return to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Game as they embark on a 55-game schedule that includes two early-season trips to North Carolina and Kansas during the 2013 season, announced head coach Jim Sherman.
In 2012, the Blue Hens produced a 31-27 record and 17-13 mark in conference play in addition to being six outs away from winning the Colonial Athletic Association Championships last season after falling to UNCW in the final game of the 2012 CAA Championships.
“We put together an outstanding schedule this year that includes perennial top 25 school, Wichita State, and Big East Conference competition, Rutgers,” Sherman said. “This is the kind of schedule that will prepare us for conference play and give us a chance for an opportunity to play for a CAA championship.”
This year's team will be led by senior captains; infielder DJ Long (.289 batting average with 21 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, 29 RBI and 47 runs scord) and outfielder Nick Ferdinand (.313 batting average with 19 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 47 RBI and 38 runs scored). Reigning CAA Championships Most Outstanding Player, infielder Jimmy Yezzo (.358 batting average with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 46 RBI and 38 runs scored) will provide the offensive punch for the Blue Hens.
Juniors Dan Gatto (4-2 with a 4.89 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 11 starts) and Chad Kuhl (5-5 with a 4.42 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 13 starts) solidifies UD's starting-pitching staff. Senior reliever Steve Richter (1-1 with 8 saves, 4.39 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 24 games) anchors the back end of the Blue Hens bullpen.
To open the season, Delaware will travel to Cary, N.C. to play at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in the Wright State University Tournament and will play four games in three days from Feb. 15-18 against Temple, Canisius, La Salle and Albany. The Blue Hens will then travel to Wichita, Kan. to play Wichita State in a four-game series from Feb. 22-24.
Delaware opens the 2013 home schedule, which includes 27 home dates, in the beginning of March as Monmouth comes to Bob Hannah Stadium for a three-game set on Mar. 1. March also begins the CAA schedule for the Hens as they open conference play on the road at Towson on March 8.
The CAA home schedule begins with a three-game series against the College of William & Mary from Mar. 15-17. Delaware will also host Georgia State, George mason, Old Dominion and James Madison. Among the CAA road trips the Blue Hens will embark on include Hofstra, Northeastern and at defending CAA champion and NCAA participant, UNCW, from Apr. 12-14.
UD 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 be on the road on Mar. 26 and if they advance will host the second round on Apr. 2. The Liberty Bell Classic Championship Game will be held on Apr. 16.
The 2013 Virginia 529 CAA Championships returns to Harrisonburg, Va. at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park on the campus of James Madison University that will begin on May 24. The top six teams in the CAA will participate in the tournament vying for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
