The Daily Campus

Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux Peter Fatse runs to first base against West Virginia on March 21.

After Saturday's 12-2 loss to West Virginia, coach Jim Penders said there was "virtually nothing" that his team could take out of the game. Add to that the fact that it relinquished a 4-1 lead the following day to get swept, and the baseball team's home opening series did not go as planned.

The Huskies (7-10) get the chance to rebound after the sweep with a game this afternoon against Holy Cross at J.O. Christian field.

The biggest thing UConn has to do is get back to basics, according to Penders.

"I know it's kind of a cliché, but we have to win each pitch," Penders said. "We have to go back to making the game as small as is possible."

Holy Cross (5-13) comes in as winners of five of its last eight games, most recently a 3-1 win over Quinnipiac on Sunday. Despite their recent success, the Crusaders have had a tough beginning to the season - losing their first 10 games - many of them by wide margins, including a 15-0 loss at the hands of Arizona State.

Holy Cross is led on offense by junior infielder Matt Perry. Perry is hitting a team best .357 with one home run and seven RBI. He is coming off a solid game against Quinnipiac on Saturday - going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI.

Perhaps the Crusaders' biggest weakness is in their pitching. Of their pitchers who have made starts, senior Dan Seip has the lowest ERA, 5.18, while recording only one more strike out (17) than walks (16).

The same can be said for the Huskies' staff, however - primarily the bullpen. In the three games against West Virginia this past weekend, the Mountaineers scored a combined 16 runs, including 11 on Saturday, in the final three innings - meaning the Huskies' starting pitchers' solid innings are being squandered by the bullpen.

Although the bullpen did hold leads, the three starting pitchers - John Folino, Eliott Glynn and Greg Nappo - all turned in solid performances, a fact that Penders was quick to note.

"Our starters gave us quality starts and gave us an opportunity to win, but we did not take it," Penders said.

Penders did not hold back criticism of his team's play against West Virginia.

"It was the worst baseball we've played all season," Penders said. "Our fans deserve a better display than we gave them."

The Huskies were orginally supposed to play at Northeastern Monday afternoon but due to inclement weather, the game has been postponed. The break from play could help them get refocused and fix what they need to, Penders said.

"We have got to execute in the moment," Penders said. "Make pitches when we need to, get hits when we need to."

What needs the most work and is necessary for beating Holy Cross, according to Penders, is timely hitting that was not there over the weekend.

"It seemed like we were back on our heels, and West Virginia just took it to us," Penders said.

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