GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University baseball team will open its 2022 season this weekend with a four-game road trip to Florida.

The Pioneers will face off against Barry University on Friday, followed by Palm Beach Atlantic University this Saturday, Lynn University on Sunday and close out the trip with Monday's clash at Embry-Riddle.

TU head coach Brandon Steele is entering his fourth season at the helm of the Pioneer program as he returns 17 lettermen including five starters from last year's 30-11 club which finished runner-up in the South Atlantic Conference.

"Our players and coaching staff are looking forward to opening this weekend in Florida and beginning our journey through the 2022 season. We have a good mix of new faces and returners who we expect to compete each time we take the field," said Steele. "Our early schedule will be a tough test for us with the level of competition we will be facing. But we are excited for the challenge and expect to learn and grow as a group as we prepare for the tough SAC schedule."

Five All-Conference performers including three All-Americans graduated from the 2021 club who established a league record for most SAC wins in a season (25). Gone are the program's all-time hits leader in second baseman Daulton Martin, TU stolen bases record holder, utility standout Bryson Ford, outfielder Brandon Trammell and All-American reliever Mitch McCain.

Ten members of last year's pitching staff are back, led by 2021 All-Conference selection Gunner Becker (Grove City, Pa.). The senior right-hander was the ace of the TU starting rotation a year ago as he posted a 7-2 record in his 11 appearances with 10 starts. He logged a 5.33 earned run average with 38 strikeouts in his team-leading 52.1 innings on the mound to go along with four complete games.

In his 17-game career with the Pioneers, Becker has tallied a 10-2 record with a 3.80 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 83 innings of work.

Also back from last year's starting rotation is senior right-hander Tyler Harmon (Huntsville, Ala.). Harmon made nine starts and logged a 3-2 worksheet with a 6.63 ERA. He pitched in 36.2 innings while combining on a shutout and posted 47 strikeouts which were the second-most on the team.

Senior Justin Parker (Huntsville, Ala.) is back after making 15 relief appearances for the Black & Orange. He went 2-1 with a save and a combined shutout in his 24.1 innings. He finished with 17 strikeouts against just six walks.

Veteran hurler Harbor Jefferson (Cleveland, Tenn.) returns after making nine appearances a year ago. The right-handed graduate student finished with a 4.40 ERA while going 2-1 in his 14.1 innings on the bump. Jefferson owns a 6-3 record in his 27 mound appearances including 10 starts. He has pitched in 62.1 career innings with 52 strikeouts and a 4.91 career ERA.

Also returning from last year's pitching staff are Corey Binion (Morehead, Ky.), Jonathan Nelson (Knoxville, Tenn.), Drew Miller (Mooresville, N.C.), Jacob Willett (Greeneville, Tenn.), Sam Loew (Binghamton, N.Y.) and Austin Collins (Greeneville, Tenn.).

Tusculum returns seven position players from last year's team with junior Murphy Flood (Dalton, Ga.) leading the charge. Flood batted .337 last season which was the fourth-best average on the club. He finished with 32 hits including five doubles, one triple and three home runs with 31 RBI and 21 runs scored. Flood also went a perfect 6-of-6 in stolen bases.

Senior Kyle Williams (Yuba City, Calif.) is back to patrol the TU outfield. He played in 35 games last season where he logged a .287 batting average with seven doubles and 16 RBI. He also amassed 23 walks, went 13-of-17 in stolen bases and led the team with his eight sacrifice bunts. He shined defensively as well, going errorless in his 69 total chances.

Also returning in the outfield is sophomore Zane Keener. Keener, who originally signed with the University of Tennessee out of high school, earned a spot on the 2022 Preseason All-SAC second team, batting .263 with six doubles, one triple and three home runs. Keener (Knoxville, Tenn.) tallied 43 RBI and scored 36 runs. He reached base safely in 16 consecutive games and finished the 2021 campaign reaching base in 11 straight outings.

Senior Luis Ezra (Miami Lakes, Fla.) started in 34 games last year, mostly patrolling first base. He totaled 28 hits with six doubles, two home runs and 22 RBI. He drew 27 walks against 18 strikeouts and finished the season with a .422 on-base percentage.

Senior infielder Jaden Steagall (Hiram, Ga.) played in 24 games including 22 starts, mostly on the left side. He batted .235 with 16 hits, 13 RBI and 17 runs. He was hit by a pitch 10 times and was a perfect 3-of-3 in stolen bases. During his 90-game career with the Pioneers, he owns a .279 batting average with 83 hits including 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 52 RBI.

Also returning in the field are seniors Ryan Kavulick (Macomb, Mich.), Wes Reynolds (Cherryville, N.C.) and Tyler Ranel (Lawrenceville, Ga.), along with junior catcher Blaze McCauley (Dacula, Ga.).

The Pioneers will have seven newcomers on the TU pitching staff including Brady Salyards (Bakersfield, Calif. / New Mexico Highlands), Drew Sliwinski (Knoxville, Tenn. / Bearden HS), Brice Anders (Brevard, N.C. / TC Roberson HS), Tyler Smith (Penfield, N.Y. / Monroe CC), Jake Greenwalt (Fort Collins, Colo. / Windsor HS), Trejen Fox-Birdwell (Rockledge, Fla. / Rockledge HS) and Joey Chirafisi (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Westminster Academy).

The TU outfield will have three newcomers on the roster including: Connor Jurek (Knoxville, Tenn. / USC Upstate), Bryson Shown (Corryton, Tenn. / Gibbs HS) and Ryan Dos Santos (Mississauga, Ontario / Southwestern Oklahoma); seven infielders including: Rudy Fernandez (Russellville, Ala. / Calhoun CC), Britten Robinson (Berea, Ky. / ETSU), Tyler White (Huntersville, N.C. / Hopewell HS), Zach Brunet (Commerce Township, Mich. / Kellogg CC), Gage Newsom (Sevierville, Tenn. / Sevier County HS), Justin Montenegro (Sugar Hill, Ga. / North Gwinnett HS) and Christian Ortega (Miami, Fla. / Davis & Elkins); three new catchers Will Samuelson (Charlotte, N.C. / Catawba Valley CC), Dylan Symonds (Wellington, Fla. / Messiah College), Luke Holland (Tampa, Fla. / Univ. of Tampa) and utility player Zach Wilson (Lawndale, N.C. / Cleveland CC).

Following this weekend's games in Florida, TU will return to Greeneville to begin an eight-game home-stand against three opponents who enter the 2022 campaign nationally ranked including four games with No. 36 Illinois-Springfield (Feb. 11-13), a three-game set with No. 29 Molloy College (Feb. 19-20) and a midweek Southeast Region contest with No. 26 Young Harris College (Feb. 22).