INDIANA, Pa. - A new year is on the horizon as the IUP baseball program opens the 2022 season this weekend with a three-game set at UNC Pembroke. Three nine inning games are scheduled for Friday thru Sunday, Feb. 11-13 at Sammy Cox Field in Pembroke, N.C.

While its season-opening weekend for the Crimson Hawks, the Braves of UNC Pembroke are 1-1 after splitting a pair of games with USC Aiken last weekend. Pembroke was also scheduled to play three games against Shepherd last weekend, but those were canceled. 

NEW FACE LEADS THE WAY
>> Veteran MLB pitcher and coach Steve Kline was named the program's 14th head coach last summer.
>> He spent the last 15 seasons as a pitching coach in the San Francisco Giants organization, aiding pitchers such as Madison Bumgarner, Luis Castillo, Sam Coonrod, and Zack Wheeler, among others.
>> Kline appeared in 796 games over 11 seasons in the Majors with Cleveland, Montreal, St. Louis, Baltimore, and San Francisco. 

WHO'S BACK
>> The Hawks return six regular position players from 2021, including last year's leading hitter Austin Mueller (.304 avg).
>> Also back is Harrison Pontoli (.296), Nick Hess (.422 slug), Colin Williams (17 RBI), Markus Cestra, and Eli Glass. 

WHO'S NEW
>> 18 of IUP's 34 opening day players were not on the team in 2021. 
>> Among the new faces are four transfers - So. RHP Patrick Apgar (New Orleans), Jr. OF Torrey Roper (Bryant & Stratton), Jr. RHP Wyatt Westendorf (Lincoln Trail College), and Jr. RHP Ryan Berry (Frederick CC).
>> The Hawks also have 13 freshmen on the opening day roster.

PSAC PREDICTIONS
>> The Hawks were picked to finish eighth in the PSAC West preseason poll, announced last week.