Connecticut Drops a Pair of Games to Rutgers
Game 1 Boxscores
Boxscore(.pdf)
Boxscore(.html) Game 2 Boxscores
Boxscore(.pdf)
Boxscore(.html) PISCATAWAY, NJ (April
17) -- The Huskies were unable to capitalize on several scoring
chances in both games on Saturday and dropped both games of Saturday's
double-header with BIG EAST foe Rutgers. UConn fell 5-1 in Game
1 and then lost Game 2 by a 5-3 score in Piscataway, N.J. With
the losses the Huskies slip to 17-16 on the season and 5-7 in BIG EAST
play. The Scarlet Knights improve to 19-13, 10-2 in the loop.
Rutgers mounted a two out rally in the third inning of Game 1 as
the Scarlet Knights scored three runs. Jason Grover lined a 2-2
fastball into centerfield, scoring two runs and Jeff Gross followed
that up with a seeing-eye single up the middle, just past Husky
shortstop Dennis Donovan.
The Huskies answered after Larry Day (Amesbury, MA), Dennis Donovan
(Center Moriches, NY), and Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, NJ) hit
back-to-back-to-back one out singles. UConn was unable to capitalize
though, as Tony Mallozzi (Westboro, MA) grounded into a double-play
ending the threat.
UConn would threaten again in the top half of the sixth. Messineo
led off the inning with a single into centerfield and Mallozzi
followed that up with a hot shot single off the shortstop's glove.
Rutgers starter Jack Egbert got Russ D'Argento (Marlboro, MA) to
ground into a 5-5-3 double play, but Mike Leonard (Vernon, CT) lined a
single into centerfield scoring Mallozzi from second and the Huskies
drew to within two runs.
Rutgers would pull away in the home half of the sixth, as the
Scarlet Knights posted a pair of runs and the Huskies were unable to
respond in the seventh.
Jeff Hourigan (Beacon Falls, CT) threw a complete game for the
Huskies, going six innings and allowing five runs on six hits.
Hourigan drops to 4-3 this season.
Egbert pitched a beauty, going the full seven innings and allowing
one run on eight hits while fanning five Huskies. Egbert now improves
to 6-1 on the season.
Messineo and Day each went 2-for-3 for the Huskies in Game 1.
Rutgers would plate three runs in the first inning of Game 2,
building an early 3-0 lead. UConn would answer with one run in the top
half of the second inning. The Huskies’ first two batters went down by
way of the K, but Mike McDonough (Abington, MA) and Brian Maloney
(Hampton, NH) drew walks and after a ten-pitch at bat, Dennis Donovan
hit a hard grounder to short. The Scarlet Knight shortstop could not
handle it though, and Mike McDonough came around to score, shrinking
Rutgers’ lead to 3-1.
The Huskies would cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth when
Russ D’Argento drew a two out walk, and Mike Leonard followed that up
with a bloop single into left center field scoring D’Argento.
Incidentally, Leonard’s RBI single in the fifth, was the Huskies’
first of the game.
Connecticut would make some noise once again in the sixth, scoring
one run to tie the score at three. Marc Peluso (Pawcatuck, CT) started
the inning off with a bunt single and Mike McDonough managed an
infield hit. Donovan then hit a one out single through the left side
scoring Peluso and the runners advanced to second and third on an
errant throw by the left fielder. However, the Huskies were unable to
push any other runs across, as Mallozzi struck out and D’Argento
grounded out to third.
Rutgers answered when Jeff Gross served a two out RBI single into
left field, giving Rutgers a 4-3 edge it would not relinquish.
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