SEATTLE — The Seattle U opens the 2020 road schedule with a one-game stop at UC Riverside on Wednesday. First pitch between the Redhawks and Highlanders is slated for 6 pm at Riverside Sports Complex.
FOLLOW ALONG /// All home games at Bannerwood Park and WAC matchups will be seemed for free online on the WAC Digital Network. For Redhawk home broadcasts, TJ Phillips will do play-by-play and commentary. Be sure to also follow @SeattleUBase on Twitter and Instagram for updates and more.
SERIES HISTORY /// Wednesday marks the first meeting between for Seattle U and UC Riverside, since the Redhawks' rebirth in 2010.
ABOUT RIVERSIDE /// The Highlanders are coming off a rough opening weekend as they were outscored by UCLA, 21-3, and got swept in the three-game set.
Riverside was 20-36 last season, 8-16 in Big West action. It also put together a 6-1 mark against WAC competition in 2019. The 2020 Highlanders however will be without key offensive threats from a year-ago in Connor Cannon and Dean Miller, who accounted 32 of the UCR's 50 home runs and roughly 33 percent (93-283) of all RBI.
UC Riverside is under the direction of former Major Leaguer, Troy Percival, who's in his sixth season at the helm.
ON THE HILL /// Sophomore right-hander Josh Thompson is scheduled to start for the Redhawks. Wednesday will be his second appearance of the season after a tough season debut on last Sunday against Creighton that saw him surrender three runs on hit in 2.0 innings. In his first season, Thompson had a 6.30 ERA in 18 appearances and a team-best 50 strikeouts through 40.0 innings.
LAST SERIES /// The Redhawks went 1-2 in the season opening series against Creighton last weekend, dropping the first game of a doubleheader on Friday before boucing back in the night cap. Seattle U was then dealt a tough decision on Sunday in the finale, as a 4-2 slipped away late.
JEK-HITS /// After missing the 2019 campaign, senior Nolan Jekich had a strong debut for the Redhawks in the Creighton series, hitting a team-best .364 (4-11), with three RBI while slugging .455. The Boise, Idaho native played the 2018 at Cal State East Bay, where he hit .231 with four RBI in 25 appearances.
#PROREDHAWKS /// During the 2019 season, Seattle U had five former Redhawks finish the year on a MLB or MiLB roster. After a great season at Erie (AA), Tarik Skubal will join the Detroit in Spring Training later this month and is beginning the 2020 season as the club's fourth-overall prospect. On Aug. 21, Eric Yardley took the mound for the San Diego, becoming the first Seattle U alum since Johnny O'Brien (July 1959) to appear in the Majors in 60 years. Yardley begins this season as a member of Milwaukee. Following a solid career in Cap Hill, Jake Prizina was selected by Baltimore in the 31st round of 2019 MLB Amateur Draft, making him the 11th Redhawk to be chosen since the program's return. Other alums among the MiLB system last season included pitchers Janson Junk (NYY-A+) and Zack Wolf (MIA-A).