Probable Pitching Matchups | Game Links
Friday, Feb. 14 at #3 Texas Tech – 1 p.m. | TV: FOX Sports Southwest | Audio | Live Stats
RHP
Kyle Gruller (HBU) vs. RHP Clayton Beeter (TTU)
Friday, Feb. 14 vs. Northern Colorado – 5 p.m. | Live Stats
RHP
Andrew Reitmeyer (HBU) vs. RHP Issac Bracken (UNC)
Saturday, Feb. 15 at #3 Texas Tech – Noon | Video | Audio | Live Stats
LHP
Solomon Klimeck (HBU) vs. RHP Austin Becker (TTU)
Sunday, Feb. 16 vs. Northern Colorado – 11 a.m. | Live Stats
RHP
Chris Burns (HBU) vs. RHP Dylan Bowers (UNC)
LUBBOCK, Texas – HBU kicks off the 2020 campaign by facing No. 3 Texas Tech and Northern Colorado twice each Friday through Sunday at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.
The Huskies are expected to send preseason all-conference senior righthander
Kyle Gruller to the mound in the opener against the Red Raiders Friday at 1 p.m., followed by junior righthander
Andrew Reitmeyer against Northern Colorado at 5 p.m. Lefthander
Solomon Klimeck is slated to start at HBU against Texas Tech Saturday at noon, then sophomore
Chris Burns should face Northern Colorado Sunday at 1 p.m.
Gruller made 12 starts last year, going 3-3 with a 2.18 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. Reitmeyer is a transfer from Palomar College, who will be making his HBU debut, after going 1-2 with a 1.13 ERA, three saves and 44 strikeouts in 24 innings over 16 appearances a year ago. Klimeck made 15 appearances, including one start, with the Huskies in 2019, going 2-1 with an 8.39 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 24.2 innings, while Burns made 11 appearances, with two starts, posting a 6.60 ERA and eight strikeouts in 15 innings.
HBU returns seven starters in the field, including preseason all-conference senior rightfielder
Brandon Bena, who hit .313 with five home runs, 12 doubles, 36 RBIs and 34 runs last year. The Huskies also welcome back senior centerfielder
Chase Talbot (.250/5 HR/27 RBIs) and senior leftfielder
Ryne Edmondson (.284/6 2B/17 RBIs). On the infield, senior first baseman
Johnny Gonzales (.280/6 HR/30 RBIs), senior second baseman
Trent Franson (.280/13 2B/11 RBIs), senior shortstop
Nathan Soriano (.228/6 2B/22 RBIs) and senior third baseman
Cal Clark (.266/6 2B/13 RBIs) are all back.
Texas Tech is expected to start righthander Clayton Beeter against HBU on Friday, then righthander Austin Becker on Saturday. Beeter made 21 appearances last season, all out of the bullpen, going 0-3 with a 3.48 ERA, eight saves and 40 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. Becker made two appearances at Vanderbilt last year, posting a 6.75 ERA with a save and nine strikeouts in four innings.
Dru Baker is the Red Raiders' leading return hitter, batting .321 with three home runs, six doubles, 25 RBIs and 30 runs as a freshman. Brian Klein hit .315 with 19 doubles, three home runs, 57 RBIs and 54 runs in 2019.
UNC will be starting righthander Isaac Bracken against HBU Friday, then righthander Dylan Bowers on Sunday. Bracken went 2-5 with a 5.32 ERA and 55 strikeouts in a team-leading 69.1 innings over 13 starts for the Bears last year. Bowers redshirted in 2019, after spending his first two seasons at College of the Siskiyous.
Sam Leach is the leading returning hitter for the Bears, batting .311 with three home runs, 10 doubles, 19 RBIs and 34 runs in 2019. Jake Gitter hit .310 with five home runs, 15 doubles, 25 RBIs and 21 runs last season.
HBU will return for its home opener against Texas State Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Husky Field. The video broadcast will be a "Free Preview" for the Husky Sports Network Season Pass pay-per-view subscription service, which begins with the weekend series against Ball State Feb. 21-23.
