UConn Takes Second Straight From Penn State with 4-2 Win

Box Score

PALM BEACH, Fla. (March 12, 2008) — Freshman Pierre LePage (Wolcott, Conn.) had two hits and two runs scored as the University of Connecticut baseball team defeated Penn State 4-2 in the Huskies second straight win on Wednesday afternoon at the Santaluces Sports Complex to finish play at the Papa John's Palm Beach Challenge.

LePage added one RBI for the Huskies while fellow freshman Mike Nemeth (Washington, N.J.) also recorded two hits and one RBI.

UConn opened up scoring early in the game as LePage began play with a single up the middle. He then stole second to get into scoring position before he managed to get himself to third on an infield out. Freshman Mike Olt (Branford, Conn.) the Huskies' leader in hits this season, smacked a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score LePage from third and to give the Huskies the early lead.

UConn added three more runs in the fifth inning as sophomore Harold Brantley, Jr. (Silver Spring, Md.) began the inning with a double to left field. LePage continued with his hot bat as he singled through the right side to score Brantley from second. After advancing on second on the throw home on the previous play, LePage scored as Peter Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) singled to right field to record his lone hit of the game. Senior co-captain Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) reached base as he was hit by a pitch then scored as Nemeth found the gap in right center for a single.

In the bottom of the eighth inning Penn State rallied and scored two runs to try and catch up to the Huskies. UConn pitcher, Will Musson (Wethersfield, Conn.) was able to get two quick outs before Penn State's Rob Yodice hit a solo homerun to get a run on the board. The Nittany Lions added another run as Cory Wine earned a walk to get on base and threaten the Husky defense. Rick Marlin followed with a single to right field to move Wine to third. Wine later scored on a Musson wild pitch.

But the Huskies were able to halt any momentum that Penn State was brewing as senior Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) earned his first save of the year. Karl came out of the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the ninth and struck out the side to end the game for the Huskies.

Trent DeLazzer (Cypress, Calif.) earned his first win of the season as he pitched 6.0 innings and allowed four hits while striking out five. Penn State's Kayle Sickler picked up his first loss of the season as he gave up two hits, one run scored and three walks in 2.2 innings played. Paul Hawkins came in to relieve Sickler for 2.1 innings before being taken out of the game. Hawkins allowed five hits and three runs in 11 batters faced.

UConn will begin BIG EAST Conference play on Friday, March 14 as the Huskies travel to Washington, D.C. to take on Georgetown in a three-game weekend series.

 -UCONN-