Baseball To Open Season Sunday Against Holy Cross

The Central Connecticut baseball team opens the 2017 season on Sunday, February 19, against Holy Cross in Northborough, MA. The teams will play a single game beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the New England Baseball Complex.

NEW ENGLAND BASEBALL COMPLEX INFORMATION

CCSU was originally scheduled to host the season-opening weekend against Holy Cross, but the games were moved to Northborough, MA, for a single game on Sunday at the New England Baseball Complex.

The Blue Devils collected two first-place votes and were picked second in the Northeast Conference preseason coaches' poll. Central returns a pair of standouts who earned all-conference honors last season. Senior Andrew Hinckley was named All-NEC First Team at pitcher after going 8-4 with a 3.73 ERA. At the plate, Hinckley batted .283 and hit three home runs. Junior Dean Lockery also earned All-NEC First Team honors. He started all 57 games and hit .344 with 32 runs scored and 21 RBIs.

Central's returnees also include senior Brett Susi, who earned All-NEC Second Team honors in 2015. He made 12 starts a season ago and won four games, while throwing 76.1 innings. Senior Franklin Jennings returns after batting a career-high .300 last season. He scored 15 runs and had four stolen bases. Over the summer, he was named to the PGCBL All-Star Game while playing for the Utica Blue Sox. Junior Ryan Costello is also back after batting .324 and tying for the team lead in home runs, while driving in 21 runs.

The Blue Devils host Hartford in their first home game at CCSU Baseball Field on March 8. Central begins Northeast Conference play with a four-game series against Mount St. Mary's. The teams will play a single game on March 17, a doubleheader on March 18 and a single game on March 19.

The NEC Tournament will be held at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT, on May 25-27.