The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/20/05 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Stefanie Sharkey The Huskies got a much needed win over Fairfield Tuesday. After blowing a seven run lead early in the game, the Huskies recovered to win by a run.

After Fairfield was able to put together a string of runs in the seventh inning to erase a seven-run deficit, it appeared the Huskies were falling even further down the basement stairs.


These Huskies, however, were not only willing to fight, but Joshua MacDonald led them out on top.


MacDonald pitched three strong innings in relief and allowed only two hits to lead UConn to a 15-14 victory over the Stags Tuesday afternoon in a game that lasted three hours and 14 minutes.


"The only reason that we won that game was because Josh MacDonald wanted the ball," coach Jim Penders said. "A lot of guys didn't want the ball after the seventh inning, and we played scared."


"We learned that we can't play any worse than we played today," said outfielder Tony Mallozzi.


Fairfield batted around the order and then some in a chaotic seventh inning that saw 10 runs score, three pitchers make an appearance for the Huskies and 11 batters come to the plate before the first out.


"We played horrible defense in that seventh inning, and that's what I'm concerned with," Penders said. "We came so close to beating ourselves, and should have beaten ourselves. At the end of the day, we got worse today."


The Huskies were able to continue on, tying the game in the bottom of the eighth when pinch runner Russ D'Argento scored on a throwing error aimed at getting batter Matt Karl out at first. Then, with Pat Mahoney on second and Bryan Maler on first, Mallozzi dropped a sac bunt down the first base line to move the runners into scoring position.


Vin DiFazio then stepped to the plate, drawing the intentional walk, and Steven Malinowski brought Mahoney home with the winning run.


MacDonald moves to 1-1 with the victory and the Huskies rise to 22-14 on the season. Dan Breen (0-2) got the loss, working 1.2 innings and allowing one run off one hit.


The Stags were quick out of the gates, hitting starting pitcher John Slusarz for two runs. The first run scored on an error, when Mark Geanuleas crossed the plate after Slusarz overthrew first baseman Matt Karl while trying to field a bunt. The second run, Jim Girolamo, scored after John Scaife hit a deep sac fly into center field.

Continued...

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