2026 UConn Huskies baseball team

American college baseball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 UConn Huskies baseball team represents the University of Connecticut in the 2026 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Huskies play their home games at Elliot Ballpark on campus in Storrs, Connecticut. The team is coached by Jim Penders, in his 23rd season at UConn. They play as members of the Big East Conference.

Record32–26 (15–6 Big East)
Headcoach
Assistant coaches
  • Jeff Hourigan (15th season)
  • Joshua McDonald (15th season)
  • Chris Podeszwa (23rd season)
Quick facts UConn Huskies baseball, Big East regular season co-champions ...
2026 UConn Huskies baseball
Big East regular season co-champions
ConferenceBig East Conference
Record32–26 (15–6 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Jeff Hourigan (15th season)
  • Joshua McDonald (15th season)
  • Chris Podeszwa (23rd season)
Home stadiumElliot Ballpark
Seasons
 2025
2027 
Close
More information Conf., Overall ...
2026 Big East Conference baseball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 20 St. John's  y 156 .7143626 .581
UConn  156 .7143226 .552
Xavier   156 .7142830 .483
Creighton   138 .6193126 .544
Georgetown   912 .4292828 .500
Butler   912 .4292034 .370
Villanova   516 .2381930 .388
Seton Hall   318 .1431630 .348
Conference champion
Tournament champion
y Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 30, 2026[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball
Close

The Huskies completed the regular season with a 32–24 record, including 15–6 in the Big East. They finished in a three-way tie for first place, their sixth straight year with at least a share of the Big East regular season title. Penders earned his 800th win on May 3, 2026 against East Tennessee State.[2] UConn entered the 2026 Big East Conference baseball tournament as the second seed, having lost a series to top-seeded St. John's and won the series against third-seeded Xavier. In the Tournament, the Huskies were eliminated in two games.[3]

Previous Season

The Huskies finished the regular season with a 17–4 conference record, 38–21 overall, claiming a share of the Big East title. They entered the 2025 Big East Conference baseball tournament as the second seed, as Creighton claimed a tiebreaker from an early season series. UConn finished the tournament 2–2 and was not included in the NCAA Tournament field.

Personnel

Roster

2026 Connecticut Huskies roster[4]
 

Pitchers

  • 10 - Drew Smith - Sophomore
  • 12 - Sean Finn - Junior
  • 13 - Charlie West - Junior
  • 15 - Brady Ericson - Freshman
  • 18 - Charlie Hale - Junior
  • 20 - Evan Hamberger - Senior
  • 22 - Garret Garbinski - Redshirt Junior
  • 24 - Matt McDowell - Freshman
  • 25 - Ryan Tatar - Freshman
  • 26 - Joe Pitts - Redshirt Sophomore
  • 27 - Tristan Aasland - Junior
  • 30 - Frank Spirito IV - Redshirt Sophomore
  • 32 - Austin Trumpour - Graduate
  • 36 - Paxton Meyers - Graduate
  • 37 - Sam Hutchinson - Junior
  • 38 - JT Caruso - Junior
  • 39 - Kyle Peters - Redshirt Sophomore
  • 40 - Joe Talarico - Junior
  • 41 - Greg Shaw III - Senior
  • 45 - Cayden Suchy - Sophomore
  • 46 - Rob Gilchrist - Redshirt Junior
  • 46 - Oliver Pudvar - Redshirt Junior
  • 48 - Justin Lessing - Graduate
 

Catchers

  • 5 - Steve Thomas - Graduate
  • 6 - Cam Righi - Freshman
  • 11 - Connor Lane - Sophomore
  • 42 - Gabriel Tirado - Sophomore
  • 54 - Chris Cancel - Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 1 - Chris Polemeni - Redshirt Junior
  • 9 - Chase Taylor - Junior
  • 49 - Nater Wachter - Junior
 

Infielders

  • 2 - Tyler Minick - Junior
  • 3 - Rob Rispoli - Redshirt Sophomore
  • 4 - Evan Menzel - Sophomore
  • 19 - Peyton Jemison - Redshirt Sophomore
  • 21 - Logan Charboneau - Freshman
  • 31 - Jackson Marshall - Sophomore
  • 34 - Bryce Detwiler - Freshman
  • 43 - Maddix Dalena - Redshirt Junior

Utility

  • 7 - Anthony Belisario - Sophomore

Coaches

2026 Connecticut Huskies baseball coaching staff[4]
  • 16 – Jim Penders – Head coach – 23rd season
  • 29 – Jeff Hourigan – Assistant coach/Recruiting coordinator – 15th season
  • 33 – Joshua MacDonald – Assistant coach – 15th season
  • 14 – Chris Podeszwa – Volunteer assistant coach – 23rd season

Schedule

More information Legend ...
Legend
 UConn win
 UConn loss
 Cancellation
BoldUConn team member
*Non-Conference game
Close
More information Regular season (32–24), February (4–6) ...
2026 Connecticut Huskies baseball game log (32–24)[5]
Regular season (32–24)
Post-Season

Rankings from D1Baseball. Parentheses indicate tournament seedings.

Close

Rankings

More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
Coaches'[6]RVRV*
Baseball America[7]
NCBWA[8]RV
D1Baseball[9]
Perfect Game[10]
Close

NCBWA ranks 30 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 25 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI