Baseball Drops Fifth Straight with 15-6 Loss to UNCG

GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 1, 2008) — The University of Connecticut baseball team fell to UNC-Greensboro 15-6 on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball field in Greensboro, N.C. in the second game of the weekend's three-game series.

With the loss the Huskies fall to 0-5 on the season while UNCG improves to 4-1.

UConn freshman Joe Pavone (Rochester, N.Y.) hit a solo homerun to lead the Huskies in today's non-conference battle. Pavone's long ball is UConn's first recorded homerun this season.

UNCG wasted no time to get on the board first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the opening inning. After two straight walks to start the game, Spartan's Tim Carrier advanced to third on a fielding error then scored on a wild pitch. A double by Ricky Orton was able to score Matt Gaski from third to put the Spartans up 2-0. UNCG's third run came from a single by Corey Overholtzer as Orton scored on the play.

The Spartans added another run in the second inning along with another in the third to go up to 5-0 on the Huskies. But UConn answered back with their first run of the game in the top of the fourth as senior Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) singled to right field to start the inning. Freshman Mike Olt (Branford, Conn.) doubled to right, for his fourth hit of the season, to move Mahoney to third before senior Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) grounded out to second to score Mahoney.

In the top of the fifth inning, Pavone recorded his solo blast to put the Huskies within three. In the top of the seventh, UConn got another run back off an Elliot Glynn (Los Alamitos, Calif.) double to right center to score freshman Pierre LePage (Wolcot, Conn.) from first.

The Spartans battled back in the bottom of the seventh, as they picked up two more runs to go ahead 7-3. Greg Feltes led of the inning by reaching base on a fielding error by the Huskies then advanced to second on a balk by UConn pitcher, John Folino (Quincy, Mass.). Orton recorded another hit, as he singled to score Feltes from second. Orton then went to second on a sacrifice bunt before being allowed third on another called balk. The Spartans added another run as Pedro Leon hit a sacrifice fly to score Orton from third.

After a scoreless eighth inning for the Huskies, UNCG pulled away with eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, led by a grand slam by Overholtzer. Carrier led off the inning reaching base on a fielding error by the Husky defense. Carrier then stole second to get into scoring position. Gaski singled to score Carrier to record his first hit of the game. Sean Snell was able to reach on a fielding error before Leon singled to the pitcher to load the bases. Overholtzer shut the door on the Huskies as he recorded four RBIs with his first grand slam of the season to put the Spartans up 11-3. After another allowed walk by the Huskies' bullpen, Spartan's Quinones struck out but was able to reach base on a wild pitch.

UNCG's rally continued as Carrier returned to the plate and hit a triple to right field to pick up two more RBIs. Gaski was able to record his second hit of the game with a double as he recorded the eighth RBI of the game for the Spartans. 

UConn did not end the game easy, as the Huskies added two runs in the top of the ninth, to make the score 15-5. LePage battled for a walk before advancing to third on a Gordon Stevens (Vista, Calif.) double to right field. LePage was able to score on a called balk before Stevens crossed the plate on a Mahoney single up the middle. Mike Olt continued the Husky rally with his fourth hit of the game to score Mahoney from first before a ground out by Karl to end the game.

Mike Olt finished the game going 4-for-5 with one RBI while LePage added a 2-for-3 performance with one run and one RBI. Mahoney added two hits, two runs and one RBI as Pavone added two more hits in the loss.

Overholtzer led the Spartans with four hits and five RBIs while Orton added a 3-for-4 performance with three RBIs.

Clay Gibson pitched five innings for the Spartans while allowing five hits. Matt McDonald (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) started on the mound for the Huskies, allowing seven hits and five runs in five innings. Folino allowed eight hits and 10 runs in three innings.

The Huskies, now 0-5 overall, will return to action on Sunday to finish the weekend series against the Spartans. Sunday's battle is set to start at 1:00 p.m.

 -UCONN-