Fordham Rams (0-0) at HBU Huskies (0-0)
Husky Field – Houston
 
Friday, Feb. 17 – 2 p.m.
LHP Christian Thames (HBU) vs. RHP Mike Cowell (Fordham)
Saturday, Feb. 18 – Noon
RHP Zach Carter (HBU) vs. RHP David Wright (Fordham)
Sunday, Feb. 19 – 1 p.m.
RHP Daniel Endsley (HBU) vs. RHP Jimmy Murphy (Fordham)
 
Video / Audio (Russ Reneau)
Live Stats
Game Program
 
HOUSTON – HBU baseball opens the 2017 season with a three-game series against Fordham Friday through Sunday at Husky Field. The video and Legacy Sports Network audio broadcast with Russ Reneau for all three games will be available on HBUHuskies.com.
 
Senior lefthander Christian Thames will get the opening-day start for the Huskies, after going 3-7 with a 3.30 ERA, three complete games, 44 strikeouts and 23 walks in 10 starts and 79.0 innings last season. Sophomore Zach Carter, who made 10 starts last year and went 2-4 with a 6.08 ERA, a save, 36 strikeouts and 22 walks in 60.2 innings, is expected to take the mound Saturday. Sophomore Daniel Endsley is in his first season at HBU after transerring from Saddleback College, where he went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA, six saves, 16 stirkeouts and only one walk in 30.0 innings in 2016.
 
HBU returns four starting position players in senior rightfielder Brandon Brintz, senior centerfielder Zane Otten, senior third baseman Austin Zillweger and senior catcher Blake Thomas. Brintz hit .249 with two home runs, two doubles, four triples, 22 RBIs and 27 runs, while Otten hit .282 with four doubles, 10 RBIs, 11 runs and led the Huskies by going 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts. Zillweger was hitting .318 until injuring his shoulder late in the season and finished the year hitting .278 with five doubles, a home run, 11 RBIs and 11 runs, and Thomas hit .217 with seven doubles, a triple, 15 RBIs and 13 runs. Senior Joe Van Marter started 31 games in the outfield, hitting .206 with two home runs, four doubles, a triple, 14 RBIs and 10 runs. Junior second baseman Jack Fitzgerald, junior shortstop Tyler Depreta-Johnson and junior first baseman Jake Pulcheon are expected to fill the remaining spots on the infield.
 
Fordham went 29-29 last year and finished fifth in the Atlantic 10 with a 15-12 mark. Probable Friday and Saturday starters Mike Cowell and David Wright, respectively, are newcomers to the Rams' pitching staff. Jimmy Murphy made 23 appearances, including six starts last year, going 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA, five saves, 47 strikeouts and 20 walks in 58.0 innings. Senior outfielder Jason Lundy is the Rams' leading returning hitter with a .268 average, eight doubles, two triples, 21 RBIs and 25 runs.

Friday's opener begins at 2 p.m., followed by a noon first pitch Saturday and a 1 p.m. start Sunday.
 
The Huskies will play their only game away from home this month, when they travel across town to take on Houston Tuesday at 6:30 at Schroeder Park, then return home for weekend series against Rhode Island (Feb. 24-26), followed by LIU Brooklyn (March 3-5).