Huskies Eliminate No. 4 Seed Pittsburgh
From BIG EAST Tournament With 5-2 Victory

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (May 23, 2007) — University of Connecticut junior starting pitcher Mike Tarsi (Danbury, Conn.) won his third consecutive decision after hurling eight strong innings as the Huskies eliminated fourth-seeded Pittsburgh from the BIG EAST Tournament Wednesday afternoon from KeySpan Park with a 5-2 victory.  

UConn advances to play No. 1 seed St. John's Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. in an elimination game for both squads. The Red Storm dropped a 2-0 decision to South Florida Wednesday night. UConn and St. John's played in the opening round of the tournament Tuesday night, with the Red Storm taking a 2-1 decision.

Tarsi allowed just two runs on 11 hits while striking out seven and walking just one, extending his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 21-2/3 innings before Pittsburgh scored its only two runs of the game in the sixth inning. 

Junior closer Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) worked a scoreless ninth to earn his conference-leading 11th save of the season.  Karl loaded the bases to start the inning, but retired the next three hitters via fielder’s choice, strikeout and line out to preserve the win for the Huskies. 

Pittsburgh starting pitcher Rob Brant (4-7) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in eight innings of work. 

UConn, playing as the home team in the second day of the tournament, pushed across a run in the bottom of the first inning to jump out to an early 1-0 advantage.  Husky sophomore second baseman Dale Brannon (St. Petersburg, Fla.) worked a full count walk with one out to start things.  After the Panthers retired the next UConn batter, senior shortstop Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.  Senior first baseman Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) put the Huskies ahead as he laced a single through the right side to plate Brannon. 

Connecticut (31-26) tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend its lead to 3-0.  Freshman Pete Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) led off the frame with a double into right-center field.  Three batters later, Donovan belted a two-run towering home run over the left field wall for his team-leading eighth round-tripper of the season. 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Huskies tacked on two more runs using a bunt and an error on the Pittsburgh infield.  Junior designated Brad Olt (Branford, Conn.) laced a one-out single just past the glove of Pittsburgh shortstop Dan Lopez before senior right fielder Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.) doubled into the left-center field to put runners on second and third.  On the following play, junior Gordon Stevens (Vista, Calif.) singled on a successful suicide squeeze play to drive in Olt from third.  In addition, Farkes also came around to score as Brant was charged with a throwing error trying to retire Olt at home on the squeeze. 

Pittsburgh (27-27) snapped Tarsi’s scoreless innings streak with a pair of runs in the top if the sixth inning.  Panther right fielder Peter Parise singled up the middle to star the inning before Seth Button followed with a single up the middle to put first two runners on.  Third baseman Dan Williams followed by driving in the first run with a single through the left side.  Two batters later, catcher Nick Mullins hit a sacrifice fly into left field to account for the second run. 

Farkes paced the Huskies at the plate by turning in a 2-for-3 showing with a run scored, while Donovan collected a game-high two RBIs. 

-UCONN-