University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Announces 2015 Baseball Schedule; Hens to Host Inaugural Hannah Invitational Feb. 27-March 1
10/8/2014 1:24:00 PM | Baseball
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware baseball team will play 25 home games highlighted by the inaugural Bob Hannah Invitational as part of the 2015 schedule released Wednesday.
The Blue Hens, who finished fourth in the final Colonial Athletic Association standings in 2014 with a 10-10 CAA record and a 26-27 overall record, will begin the 2015 campaign with a pair of road trips.
Delaware will kickoff the season with a three-game set at Atlantic Coast Conference contender Wake Forest beginning Feb. 13. The Hens will then travel to former CAA foe Virginia Commonwealth for another three-game series set to begin on Feb. 20.
The upcoming season will also be the first full season at Bob Hannah Stadium, which underwent an extensive renovation project that was completed in April, 2014.
Jim ShermanDelaware will play its first home games as part of the first ever Bob Hannah Invitational.
The tournament, which is named after the former Delaware Hall of Fame head coach, will be a three-team round robin tournament consisting of matchups between Delaware, Delaware State, and Albany. The tournament is set to begin Feb. 27 and continue through March 1. The event will commence with a doubleheader of Delaware State vs. Albany followed by Delaware vs. Delaware State. All games will take place at Bob Hannah Stadium.
The Blue Hens will kickoff CAA play on March 20 when UD hosts a three-game series against Hofstra. Delaware will travel to CAA newcomer Elon for a three-game weekend series beginning May 8.
UD will also host games against 2014 NCAA Tournament participant Maryland, Rider, Lehigh, Wilmington (Del.), Saint Joseph's, and Lafayette as part of its non-conference schedule.
Delaware will again take part in the annual Liberty Bell Classic Tournament, which features the area's top eight Division I baseball programs. Although the schedule of the classic is not completed, Delaware will host a first round game on March 24. The championship game of the tournament will take place at Citizens Bank Park.
Second baseman Zach Lopes and outfielders Joe Giacchino and Norm Donkin highlight the top returnees in the Delaware lineup. Lopes was a first team All-CAA selection a year ago when he batted .320 while Donkin earned second team All-CAA notice after hitting .316 with 30 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases. Giacchino was an All-CAA third team pick a year ago when he batted .314, scored 39 runs and hit 14 doubles and five triples.
Redshirt sophomore Chad Martin will be the Blue Hens top returning starting pitcher. He was tied for the team lead with five wins, recorded a 5.35 ERA, and had the lowest opponent batting average (.240) in 2014.
Sophomores Kevin Milley and John Geffre provided crucial depth to the pitching staff as freshmen last season and will assume bigger roles in the staff in 2015. The UD bullpen will be led by senior standout Luke Alicknavitch. The right-hander led the Blue Hens last season with a 3.64 ERA and a team-high six saves.
The 2015 CAA Tournament will be hosted at the College of Charleston's Ballpark at Patriots Point. The double-elimination tournament is set for May 20-23 and will feature the top six CAA teams who will compete for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
