The May 15 game against Villanova has a special twist. It's also the night of the Husky 9-in-9 Pizza Challenge.
You don’t need to be a competitive eater like Joey Chestnut to enjoy this promotion from UConn baseball.
“Connecticut has the best pizza in the country…now it’s time to prove you can handle it," reads the message posted to the team’s X account. “Introducing the Husky 9-in-9 Pizza Challenge at UConn Baseball on May 15.
9 slices 9 innings”
Tickets are $35 and include general admission and vouchers for nine slices of pizza. The Huskies are playing Villanova that day at Elliot Ballpark on the UConn campus in Storrs, Conn.
“Step up to the plate for the Husky 9-in-9 Pizza Challenge at the UConn Baseball game on May 15! Fans will take on the ultimate ballpark test-eat 9 slices of pizza in 9 innings and earn bragging rights as a true Husky legend,” reads the ticket page on the UConn website. “Complete the challenge and you'll receive an official certificate of achievement and the chance to take a photo on the field after the game.”
Did Joey Chestnut inspire the day?
Chestnut, 42, has been dubbed the greatest competitive eater in the world. He is best known for his 17 titles at the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, and he holds the record for eating 76 Nathan’s Famous hot dogs – and buns! – in 10 minutes.
According to Major League Eating, which runs the July 4 contest, that is far from the only record that Chestnut owns. In fact, the promoter says Chestnut holds 55 world records in 55 disciplines – meaning food categories.
Competitive eater Joey Chestnut (center) talks with fans before the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sept. 12, 2025. Chestnut grew up in the Bay Area and studied at San Jose State. Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesThink chicken wings (182 in 30 minutes), hard-boiled eggs (141 in eight minutes) and pulled pork sandwiches (45 in in minutes).
Chestnut has partnered with Aramark Sports + Entertainment, the concessionaire at Major League Baseball stadiums across the country on the 9-9-9 Challenge. That’s nine flight-sized beers and nine mini hot dogs, being served at six MLB parks in 2026, MLB.com reported.
Some parks might put a local flair on the challenge, with Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., substituting double-dip hoagies for hot dogs.
About UConn baseball
The Huskies stand 26-22 on the season heading into their home game on Sunday against East Tennessee State. They have eight regular-season games remaining.
Through games of Friday, the Huskies’ were being led by Jackson Marshall, who was batting .376 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 46 RBIs. His numbers are tops on the team in all three categories.
On the pitching side, Charlie Hale was a perfect 6-0 with a 2.65 ERA in 17 games (seven starts) through games of Friday.
Join the Conversation
Remember to join our UCONN on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Huskies fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!