Boxscore(.pdf)
Boxscore(.html)
STORRS, Conn. (March 30) — The Huskies managed 14 hits including
six for extra bases on Tuesday afternoon, but Rhode Island took
advantage of UConn’s six errors as the Rams defeated the University of
Connecticut baseball team 7-5 at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs, Conn.
With the victory, the Huskies slip to 9-10 on the season, while URI
improves to 8-12-1 in 2004.
The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead on junior Jeff Hourigan’s
(Beacon Falls, CT) two-out, two-run home run in the third. UConn had a
chance to build the lead but Mike Leonard (Vernon, CT), who had
followed Hourigan’s bomb with a double, was thrown out at the plate
trying to score on Marc Peluso’s single (Pawcatuck, CT).
The Rams cut the UConn lead in half with one run in the top half of
the fourth, and then took the lead for good in the fifth when they
posted four runs. The Rams only managed two hits in the frame, but
capitalized and scored four unearned runs on three UConn errors.
UConn would make things interesting when the Huskies drew to within
two runs in the eighth. Mallozzi laced a two-run triple into the left
center field gap with two outs, but Hourigan struck out swinging to
end the threat.
The Huskies brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but
Dave Tokarz (Seymour, CT) struck out swinging and the Rams took home
the victory.
Hourigan’s home run was his sixth of the season, which is second
most in the BIG EAST. Mallozzi went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple
and two RBI. Freshman Dennis Donovan added some pop to the
bottom of the lineup with a 2-for-4 effort and one run scored. Leonard
continued his hot hitting with two doubles in three at-bats.
Rich Sirois took the hard-luck loss for UConn, as he scattered
seven hits over 4.1 innings of work and only surrendered one earned
run. Ted Garry kept the Huskies in the game as he hurled the final
three innings and gave up three hits, no runs while fanning two.
The Huskies are back in action Wednesday, March 31 when they take
on Yale at 3:00 p.m. in New Haven.
