STORRS, Conn. (April 2) — Bryan Maler’s single with two outs in the
bottom of the ninth inning plated the winning run as the University of
Connecticut baseball team posted a 2-1 win over Maine on Friday
afternoon at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs. The win evens the Huskies
at 10-10 on the season while the Black Bears dip to 12-10.
UConn’s Josh MacDonald and Maine’s Mike MacDonald locked horns in a
pitchers duel as the two right-handers battled deep into a game that
would not see any extra base hits. UConn’s MacDonald pitched eight
innings allowing one unearned run and three singles, striking out five
and walking four. Maine’s MacDonald, the staff ace and 2002 America
East Conference Pitcher of the Year, went seven strong innings,
allowing one run on eight singles, striking out six with a pair of
walks. He fired an impressive 73 strikes on his 106 pitches. Neither
would factor into the decision, however. Keith Potvin picked up the
win for UConn after a shutout inning of relief that included two
strikeouts. Jamie Gratello got the loss for Maine, allowing one hit
and an unearned run over 1.2 innings of work.
After four and a half scoreless innings, UConn broke through with a
run in the home half of the fifth. Dave Tokarz singled through the
right side of the Maine infield and advanced to second when Tony
Mallozzi followed with a single to center. Tim Dempsey followed by
ripping another single through the right side of the Black Bear
infield, driving Tokarz home. MacDonald clamped down on the rest of
the potential Husky uprising though to hold the damage at one run.
Maine countered immediately, scoring in the top of the sixth
inning. Simon Williams led off the frame with a single down the left
field line, moved to second on a Matt McGraw walk and advanced to
third on Greg Creek’s sacrifice bunt. However, Joe Hough’s drive to
third would go through Matt Untiet allowing Williams to score. Strong
Husky defense squashed the rest of the Maine rally. After Hough’s at
bat, Ryan Quintal delivered what appeared to be a textbook sacrifice
fly to left field but Maler fired a hard strike homeward and
MacDonald’s relay was true, as Mike Leonard tagged out McGraw at the
plate.
Still tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, UConn would win the
game. Tim Dempsey led off the frame by reaching on a misplayed ground
ball by Jason Harvey at shortstop. Dempsey would reach second base on
a Marc Peluso sacrifice bunt and then was lifted in favor of pinch
runner Kyle Messineo. Two batters later, Maler delivered a single to
shallow center field that allowed Messineo to score the game-winning
run.
The Huskies return to action over the weekend when they play host
to Georgetown in BIG EAST Conference play. The Huskies and Hoyas will
play a doubleheader on Saturday at noon in Storrs, followed by a
single game on Sunday at noon.
