Norton Pitches Complete Game Win as Huskies Split with Boston College

Boxscore - Game One [.pdf]
Boxscore - Game Two [.pdf]

STORRS, Conn. (May 20, 2005) - The University of Connecticut baseball team split a doubleheader with Boston College on Friday afternoon, dropping the first game 5-2 before defeating the Eagles 5-1 behind a stellar complete game performance by junior Tim Norton (Pascoag, R.I.). The split maintained UConn's .500 mark play in the BIG EAST, moving to 11-11 in league games and 34-21 overall. Boston College improved to 16-8 in the conference, with a 35-18 season mark.

In the second game, Norton pitched his second complete game of the season, limiting the Eagles to just five hits and one run over nine innings. He also struck out five batters while issuing only one base on balls to improve to 4-0 this season.

The Huskies gave Norton an early lead to work with, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, senior Russ D'Argento (Marlboro, Mass.) singled down the left line, followed by a single through the right side by fellow senior Tony Mallozzi (Westboro, Mass.). Classmate Jeff Hourigan (Beacon Falls, Conn.) then reached on a fielder's choice that got Mallozzi out at second. D'Argento scored and Hourigan moved to second as the shortstop's throw on the attempted double play went high over the first baseman's head. Sophomore Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.) hit a single to left center that moved Hourigan to third. Both then advanced a base, with Hourigan coming home to score, on a balk by BC starter Joe Martinez. The final run of the inning was scored by Farkes on a double by sophomore Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.).

D'Argento added another run in the bottom of the third inning when he hit a solo shot over the left-field wall. The homerun, his fifth of the season, was his 200th career hit and gave UConn a 4-0 lead. D'Argento is only the seventh Husky in school history to reach the 200-hit plateau.

Boston College erased the shutout in the top of the fourth as Jason Delaney led off with a single and eventually came around to score on a groundout by Ryne Reynoso. Norton then retired 17 of the next 19 batters, allowing just two hits and striking out four batters in the next five innings.

The final UConn run was scored in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) hit a ground-rule double over the right center wall, moved to third on a single by junior Steven Malinowski (Kensington, Conn.), and came around to score on a sac fly to center by freshman Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa).

The Huskies out-hit the Eagles 10-5 in the 5-1 win. D'Argento led the UConn bats with a 2-for-4 performance with two runs and an RBI. BC's Martinez (8-3) registered the loss, pitching seven innings with five runs on nine hits, seven strikeouts and a walk.

In the first game, the Eagles led 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth when UConn scored to tie the game at 1-1. With one out, Mallozzi had a checked swing single that danced down the third base line. After advancing to second on a groundout to the pitcher by Hourigan, Mallozzi scored on a fielding error by the third baseman on a ball hit by Farkes.

The Eagles scored once in the top of the fifth to retake the lead at 2-1. In the sixth, BC scored two runs on four hits to pull ahead 4-1. Jared McGuire then gave the Eagles a 5-1 lead when he hit a solo homerun, his sixth of the season, in the top of the seventh.

UConn started a last-chance rally in the bottom of the seventh as Mahoney led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by Donovan that hit second base. Junior Austin Wasserman (Nashua, N.H.) then singled back to the pitcher to load the bases. Mahoney scored on a sac fly by D'Argento to cut the lead to 5-2 and Mallozzi then loaded the bases again on a hit-by-pitch. BC starter Mike Wlodarczyk was then replaced by Kevin Boggan, who struck out Hourigan and Farkes to end the game and pick up his fourth save of the season.

Wlodarczyk of the Eagles registered the win to move to 10-2 this season. Sophomore Rich Sirois (Ipswich, Mass.) picked up the loss for a 6-6 record. He threw 5.2 innings with four runs on six hits and two walks. Fellow sophomore Ted Garry (Rochester, Minn.) pitched a third of an inning as he struck out his lone batter faced to end the sixth inning. Freshman David Erickson (Stratford, Conn.) threw the final inning with one run on two hits and a walk. The game was Erickson's team-leading 23rd appearance of the season, while Garry notched his 22nd.

Connecticut looks to win its fourth BIG EAST series in a row as the Huskies battle Boston College in their regular-season finale on Saturday, May 21 at 12:00 p.m. at J.O .Christian Field. Prior to the game, the UConn baseball program will pay tribute to its three seniors, D'Argento, Hourigan and Mallozzi, during the Hartford Courant careerbuilder.com Senior Salute.