Spring Break
Huskies overcome shaky pitching to earn win
Mark Osborne
Issue date: 4/3/03 Section: Sports
For the Huskies, it was more of the same against Yale Wednesday. UConn's pitching was shaky, but yet again, the Huskies came up big offensively late to grab a 9-6 victory over the Bulldogs.
At the start of the game, it looked as though it was going to be another race to double-digit runs. But both teams quickly calmed down. Yale left fielder Randy Leonard led off the game by getting to first on an error by UConn centerfielder Russ D'Argento and Leonard later scored on a sac fly by centerfielder Chris Elkins. UConn starting pitcher Erik Drown settled down to end the inning by surrendering just the one run on no hits.
The Huskies would fire back in the bottom of the inning scoring two runs to take the lead. D'Argento led off the game similarly to how the Bulldogs started, on an error. D'Argento used his speed to steal second base and get into scoring position. A triple by first baseman Peter Soteropolous scored D'Argento.
The game quickly turned into a pitching duel as Drown battled a slew of Yale pitchers, with both sides putting up four consecutive scoreless innings. Drown carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but although it was broken up, no runs scored. The Huskies put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth with the help of some throwing troubles from Yale.
The Huskies looked to be in good position again with a 4-1 lead entering the sixth inning, but Yale found their stroke in the frame and put five runs on the board. Drown, who had been sitting down batters at an impressive pace, ran into some serious offense from the Bulldogs. Yale got the first five batters of the inning on base, forcing Drown out of the game.
"Four shots and a walk, I had to take him out," head coach Andy Baylock said. "Even though he did good up until then."
Those five base runners would produce two runs, before Drown was relieved by workhorse Keith Potvin. Potvin took over with the bases loaded and allowed three runners on base, all credited to Drown, to score. Designated hitter Dave Fortenbaugh brought in the first of those runs on a single. Second baseman Steven Duke got a double to bring home the other two runs.
At the start of the game, it looked as though it was going to be another race to double-digit runs. But both teams quickly calmed down. Yale left fielder Randy Leonard led off the game by getting to first on an error by UConn centerfielder Russ D'Argento and Leonard later scored on a sac fly by centerfielder Chris Elkins. UConn starting pitcher Erik Drown settled down to end the inning by surrendering just the one run on no hits.
The Huskies would fire back in the bottom of the inning scoring two runs to take the lead. D'Argento led off the game similarly to how the Bulldogs started, on an error. D'Argento used his speed to steal second base and get into scoring position. A triple by first baseman Peter Soteropolous scored D'Argento.
The game quickly turned into a pitching duel as Drown battled a slew of Yale pitchers, with both sides putting up four consecutive scoreless innings. Drown carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but although it was broken up, no runs scored. The Huskies put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth with the help of some throwing troubles from Yale.
The Huskies looked to be in good position again with a 4-1 lead entering the sixth inning, but Yale found their stroke in the frame and put five runs on the board. Drown, who had been sitting down batters at an impressive pace, ran into some serious offense from the Bulldogs. Yale got the first five batters of the inning on base, forcing Drown out of the game.
"Four shots and a walk, I had to take him out," head coach Andy Baylock said. "Even though he did good up until then."
Those five base runners would produce two runs, before Drown was relieved by workhorse Keith Potvin. Potvin took over with the bases loaded and allowed three runners on base, all credited to Drown, to score. Designated hitter Dave Fortenbaugh brought in the first of those runs on a single. Second baseman Steven Duke got a double to bring home the other two runs.