CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas-Friday-Sunday, University of Utah baseball (1-3) visits Corpus Christi, Texas to compete at the Kleberg Bank College Classic.
The Utes will compete against the host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (0-3)of the Southland Conference Friday. They will then face Missouri (2-1) of the SEC Saturday and Kansas State (2-2) of the Big 12 Sunday.
Utah is coached by 17th year head coach Bill Kinneberg who is 604-677-1 (.471) headed into this weekend’s ballgames.
Junior infielder/outfielder Shea Kramer has been solid for the Utes to start the season. The native of Vacaville, Calif. leads the Utes in batting average (.474), hits (9) and RBI (7) on the season. Kramer, junior outfielder Vinny Zavolta and freshman catcher Brock Rudy have each homered for Utah on the season.
The Islanders are coached by 13-year head coach Scott Malone (315-360, .467).
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is led by senior infielder Scott Hastings (.500 batting average), senior outfielder Mike Williams and junior outfielder Tristan Welch (4 hits apiece).
The Utes and Islanders will meet on the diamond for the first time in history Friday.
Missouri is coached by fourth-year head coach Steve Bieser (106-68-1, .608) who moved on to Columbia, Mo. after posting a 138-97 (.587) record at Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference from 2013-2016.
Freshman infielder Dalton McNamara has a hit in his only at-bat of the season for the Tigers, giving him a 1.00 batting average. Senior infielder Peter Zimmermann has a .444 batting average for Missouri, along with four hits and 2 RBI.
Junior infielder Mark Vierling leads the Tigers in hits (5) and junior catcher Chad McDaniel leads the squad in home runs (1) and RBI (4). The Utes lead the Tigers 4-2 all-time.
Kansas State is coached by second-year head coach Pete Hughes (27-35, .435).
The Wildcats are led by sophomore outfielder/left-handed pitcher Dylan Phillips (team-bests in batting average [.267], hits [4] and RBI [5]).
Phillips and senior right-handed pitcher/outfielder Caleb Littlejim each have a home run on the season for the Wildcats.
The Utes seek their first win against Kansas State in history as the Wildcats lead the series 5-0 all-time.
