INDIANAPOLIS – Butler and UConn will meet for the first time as conference rivals this weekend in Indianapolis. The three game series will begin on Friday afternoon with a 4 PM first pitch on BEDN. The finale has been pushed up to an 11:30 AM start for travel purposes.
 
Weekend Schedule
April 29 – 4 PM (BEDN)
April 30 – 2 PM
May 1 – 11:30 AM (FloSports)
 
Probable Starters
Friday: RHP Derek Drees vs. RHP Austin Peterson
Saturday: LHP Cory Bosecker vs. RHP Pat Gallagher
Sunday: TBD vs. RHP Enzo Stefanoni
 
Scouting #15 UConn
The Huskies are the top team in the BIG EAST Conference heading into the weekend. They posted midweek wins over Northeastern and Yale to improve their overall record to 34-8. Their only conference loss came on a Saturday vs. Villanova. They went 2-1 vs. the Wildcats after sweeping St. John's and Seton Hall.
 
UConn leads the BIG EAST in batting average (.296), hits (441), doubles (99), triples (18), runs (338), on-base percentage (.390), slugging percentage (.487), ERA (2.94), and fielding percentage (.977).
 
Erik Stock leads the conference and ranks 19th in the NCAA with a .408 batting average. He has 69 hits over 41 games to lead the BIG EAST and rank sixth in the nation. Every weekend starter for the Huskies has an ERA under 3.00. Indiana native Austin Peterson leads the BIG EAST in strikeout-to-walk ratio, strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings, victories, and walks allowed per nine innings. At the end of the game, look for UConn to send Justin Willis to the mound. The senior has a team-best 10 saves in 15 appearances.
 
Last Year at UConn
The BIG EAST baseball series between Connecticut and Butler originally scheduled for April 30 through May 2 last year was canceled due to travel issues.
 
All-Time Series
Butler is 0-3 all-time against UConn. The two programs played three times during the 2004 season with the Huskies defeating the Bulldogs, 8-3, 5-2 and 10-0.
 
BIG EAST Standings
UConn 8-1, 33-8
Creighton 8-1, 23-11
Xavier 5-4, 21-21
Georgetown 5-7, 24-17
Villanova 5-7, 15-20-1
Seton Hall 3-6, 12-28
Butler 2-6-1, 18-23-1
St. John's 2-6-1, 15-24-1
 
BIG EAST Rankings
Batting Average: 6th (.250)
ERA: 7th (7.08)
Fielding Percentage: 5th (.965)
 
Hitting Streak
Kollyn All extended his hitting streak to eight games Tuesday night with a solo home run against Indiana in the ninth inning. All homered down the right field line at Victory Park on a 1-1 count.
 
Reached Base Streaks
Kollyn All and Dominic Milano have each reached base safely in eight-straight games.
 
Welcome Back
Scott Jones returned to the lineup on April 26 after missing the team's previous five contests with an injury. Jones went 1-for-4 in his return vs. the Hoosiers.
 
Better at Bulldog Park
The Bulldogs are 11-6 in home games this season and 5-15-1 on the road. James Gargano is batting .281 in Indianapolis with a team-best 18 hits. On the mound, Jon Vore, Lukas Galdoni and Cole Graverson are all 2-0 at Bulldog Park.
 
Alright
UConn will start three-right handed pitchers this weekend. Butler is 14-17 vs. right handers and 4-6-1 against south paws. Garret Gray may see more at-bats vs. the Huskies. He is batting .365 against right handed pitchers in 2022. Aaron Steinhart is also above .300 for BU.
 
Lukas Locked In
Lukas Galdoni has not walked multiple batters in a game since March 14 against Western Illinois. He has only walked five batters all season in 28.2 innings of action.
 
Up Next
Butler's final non-conference midweek game at Bulldog Park will fall on Tuesday, May 3 against Indiana Wesleyan at 4 PM.