Pittsburgh Rallies to Defeat UConn, 9-6

Boxscore [.pdf]

STORRS, Conn. (April 10, 2005) - The University of Connecticut fell to Pittsburgh by a score of 9-6 on Sunday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. The Huskies were leading 6-0 until the top of the eighth inning in which the Panthers scored nine runs to take the win. UConn is now 20-9 overall with a 4-4 mark in the BIG EAST. Pittsburgh is 15-13, 3-7 against league opponents.

The Huskies scored two runs in the third, fifth and seventh innings to build a 6-0 lead. In the third, junior Austin Wasserman (Nashua, N.H.) and sophomore Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.) scored when the center fielder misplayed a fly ball hit by senior Jeff Hourigan (Beacon Falls, Conn.).

Fellow senior Russ D'Argento (Marlboro, Mass.) then drove in two more UConn runs in the fifth when he singled up the middle to bring home classmate Tony Mallozzi (Westboro, Mass.) and junior Bryan Maler (Ansonia, Conn.).

The lead was pushed to 6-0 when freshman Vin DiFazio (Hampton, N.J.) knocked a single to left field in the seventh to score Hourigan and D'Argento.

Junior Brendan McGinn (Tolland, Conn.) started the game for the Huskies and pitched well, allowing just two hits in the first seven innings. The Pittsburgh bats then came alive in the eighth and the Panthers were able to get four straight hits to score two runs and drive McGinn from the game.

Sophomore Ted Garry (Rochester, Minn.) then made his second appearance of the series in relief. Garry only was able to get one out though as Pitt registered two more hits and scored three runs to pull within one at 6-5.

Garry was relieved by junior Tim Norton (Pascoag, R.I.). Two more runs were then scored on a throwing error to home by Norton to push the Panthers ahead 7-6. Dan Williams drove in the last two runs of the inning on a single to center field to increase Pitt's lead to 9-6.

Norton got the next two batters to fly out and strike out, but the damage by the Panthers was done with nine runs on seven hits. UConn was unable to respond in the last two innings, giving Pitt the rallying victory.

Andrew Kuss registered the win for the Panthers to move to 3-1. Garry picked up the loss for the Huskies and is 1-1. McGinn left with a no decision, throwing seven innings with four runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

Overall, Mallozzi and D'Argento both went 3-for-5 with a run. D'Argento also added two RBI. Wasserman and DiFazio also had two-hit games.

Connecticut will next travel to Amherst, Mass., to face UMass on Tuesday, April 12 at 3:00 p.m. The Huskies will then return home to J.O. Christian Field to take on Siena on Wednesday, April 13, with the game also starting 3:00 p.m.