HCU Huskies at UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros
UTRGV Baseball Stadium – Edinburg, Texas
Probable Starters
Friday, February 17
RHP
Rye Gunter (HCU) vs. RHP Jesus Aldaz (UTRGV)
Saturday, February 18
RHP
Walker Zander (HCU) vs. LHP Randy Garza (UTRGV)
Sunday, February 19
TBD (HCU) vs. Colten Davis (UTRGV)
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats
EDINBURG, Texas – HCU baseball will open its second season under head coach
Lance Berkman this Friday, traveling to UT Rio Grande Valley for a three-game series at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
The Huskies are likely to send out a starting rotation of righthanders
Rye Gunter and Walker Zander with multiple options to start game three. Cash McNicholas, a right-handed junior transfer, is expected to fill the team's closer role.
HCU returns four position starters from last season, led by 2022 third team all-Southland Conference selection
Austin Roccaforte. A senior infielder/outfield, Roccaforte led the team with 33 runs, 13 stolen bases, and three triples in 2022. Junior catcher
Parker Edwards, senior infielder/catcher
Tyler LaRue, and junior third baseman
Reed Chumley also return to the starting lineup. Edwards led last year's team with eight home runs, 11 doubles, and a .553 SLG% while LaRue recorded a .307 batting average with a .763 OPS and Chumley scored 24 runs on 28 hits.
Samuel Benjamin,
Trent Baker,
Damian Ruiz,
Cash Benavidez, and
Dylan LaRue are a few of the 24 newcomers who figure to factor prominently into the Huskies' lineup.
UTRGV is expected to start right-hander Jesus Aldaz in Friday's opener, followed by left-hander Randy Garza on Saturday and right-hander Colten Davis on Sunday.
The Vaqueros return their leading hitter in outfielder Brandon Pimentel, who hit .377 with 17 doubles, 12 home runs, 47 RBI and 54 runs in 2022. Outfielder Montclair Cain hit .370 with eight home runs, 16 doubles, 41 RBI and 40 runs. Infielder/catcher Jacob Sanchez batted .299 with eight doubles, five home runs, 27 RBI and 32 runs.
The Huskies are 18-15 all-time in season openers. The series marks the 35th meeting between HCU and UTRGV with HCU owning a 19-15 all-time record against the Vaqueros.
HCU travels to face Baylor on Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Waco, before returning for the Sugar Land Classic, facing SFA, Seton Hall and Lamar in the tournament taking place Friday through Sunday, Feb. 24-26.
