Spring Break
Baseball thriving in warm weather
Zac Boyer
Issue date: 3/18/05 Section: Sports
The Huskies apparently love playing in warm weather.
With 12 games under their belt and having won eight of their nine games during spring break, UConn will look to enhance its 9-3 record as they head to Centenary this weekend for a three-game weekend series.
The Huskies are coming off an impressive showing at the USA Challenge this past weekend in Millington, Tenn., where they were able to capture the tournament crown. In their final game against Tennessee-Martin, pitcher Rich Sirois paced the Huskies with six strikeouts in 7.1 innings, and only allowed three hits while walking one batter.
Upon returning home, Sirois was named Big East Pitcher of the Week for his efforts, which also included striking out five batters in seven innings in the Huskies' 17-5 bombing of Holy Cross. Tim Norton, who had a career-high 11 strikeouts against Memphis, and Jeff Slusarz also pitched well for the Huskies during their southern swing.
"Our pitching was very solid," head coach Jim Penders said. "We had a lot of good performances out of the bullpen, and [I knew] at the beginning that pitching was going to be as far as we could go."
UConn now turns their attention toward Shreveport, La. this weekend as they take on Centenary.
"They're a very dangerous team and they're going to be on their home turf," Penders said. "We haven't played a three-game set against anyone on their home turf, so that will be a heck of a challenge."
The Gents (7-9) are coming off an 11-0 rout over Wiley, an NAIA school, Monday afternoon, which saw starter David McElroy notch his third win of the season. Catcher Justin Darr led the Centenary offense, going 3-for-5 with two runs, one RBI and a stolen base.
Through 16 games, shortstop David Kiefer leads the Gents' offense with a .429 batting average, 18 RBI and 14 runs. Darr is second on the team with a .383 average.
The series will help the Huskies prepare for Big East competition, which often involves playing a doubleheader Saturday afternoon and a single game Sunday. By traveling extensively today and getting prepared for games tomorrow afternoon, UConn will be acclimated for its first away three-game set against Notre Dame in mid-April.
After this weekend's series, the Huskies are scheduled to return home to Storrs for their first home game of the season against UMass at J.O. Christian field Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m.
With 12 games under their belt and having won eight of their nine games during spring break, UConn will look to enhance its 9-3 record as they head to Centenary this weekend for a three-game weekend series.
The Huskies are coming off an impressive showing at the USA Challenge this past weekend in Millington, Tenn., where they were able to capture the tournament crown. In their final game against Tennessee-Martin, pitcher Rich Sirois paced the Huskies with six strikeouts in 7.1 innings, and only allowed three hits while walking one batter.
Upon returning home, Sirois was named Big East Pitcher of the Week for his efforts, which also included striking out five batters in seven innings in the Huskies' 17-5 bombing of Holy Cross. Tim Norton, who had a career-high 11 strikeouts against Memphis, and Jeff Slusarz also pitched well for the Huskies during their southern swing.
"Our pitching was very solid," head coach Jim Penders said. "We had a lot of good performances out of the bullpen, and [I knew] at the beginning that pitching was going to be as far as we could go."
UConn now turns their attention toward Shreveport, La. this weekend as they take on Centenary.
"They're a very dangerous team and they're going to be on their home turf," Penders said. "We haven't played a three-game set against anyone on their home turf, so that will be a heck of a challenge."
The Gents (7-9) are coming off an 11-0 rout over Wiley, an NAIA school, Monday afternoon, which saw starter David McElroy notch his third win of the season. Catcher Justin Darr led the Centenary offense, going 3-for-5 with two runs, one RBI and a stolen base.
Through 16 games, shortstop David Kiefer leads the Gents' offense with a .429 batting average, 18 RBI and 14 runs. Darr is second on the team with a .383 average.
The series will help the Huskies prepare for Big East competition, which often involves playing a doubleheader Saturday afternoon and a single game Sunday. By traveling extensively today and getting prepared for games tomorrow afternoon, UConn will be acclimated for its first away three-game set against Notre Dame in mid-April.
After this weekend's series, the Huskies are scheduled to return home to Storrs for their first home game of the season against UMass at J.O. Christian field Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m.