The UConn baseball team will return to the field on Friday, Oct. 10, for their first intercollegiate action of the fall against Rhode Island. First pitch for the 12-inning contest is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. at Elliot Ballpark in Storrs.
URI will be bringing a few familiars faces back to Storrs. Pitching coach David Fischer spent four seasons at UConn before being selected in the 18th round of the 2012 MLB draft by the Washington Nationals. From 2009 to 2012, Fischer pitched to a 3.27 ERA and accumulated 154 strikeouts, leaving the team having made the sixth most appearances in program history.
The Rams also have a former UConn player on their roster, as right-handed pitcher Tommy Turner appeared in five games for the 2024 Huskies. One of those appearances came during the NCAA tournament against Florida State. The Rhode Island native transferred to his home state school the following summer.
URI also returns top 2025 performers Jack Hopko and Reece Moroney. Hopko had an outstanding year as he broke the program’s single-season record for RBIs in a season with 83; that mark was the fifth highest in the country. Hopko also posted a 1.052 OPS and is the team’s best hitter. Moroney, who had .464 on base percentage last season, is another middle-of-the-order bat that will return for the new season.
For UConn, sophomore utilityman Anthony Belisario will look to stay hot after picking up three hits in the team’s alumni game on Sunday, Sept. 28, including a home run and double. Jackson Marshall and Maddix Dalena also homered in the game and are battling to stake a claim to a corner spot for the spring.
Charlie West also looked good in the alumni game, striking out seven over three scoreless innings of work. The left-hander is one of UConn’s most experienced pitchers coming into the fall, and he is looking to cement a spot in the weekend rotation.
UConn and URI faced off one time in 2025, with the Huskies prevailing 16-6 in just seven innings after the run rule was applied. Current Huskies Tyler Minick and Connor Lane both hit home runs in the contest, with Minick leading the team with four RBIs. Historically, UConn has played more games against URI than any other team in program history, with an even 200 matchups having taken place between the two dating back to 1896. UConn leads the all-time series 123-69-5 and will hope to replicate that success going into Friday evening.