Spring Break
Hoyas win last game of weekend series, end UConn's five-game win streak
Matthew McDonough
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: Sports
After two easy wins against Georgetown, it looked as if a sweep of the Hoyas was a foregone conclusion. Especially after George Springer singled in Dale Brannon in the bottom of the first Sunday to push the Huskies out to a 1-0 lead over last-place Georgetown at J.O. Christian Field. But it proved not to be as Hoyas exploded with two runs in the third and three in the fourth inning, winning the game 5-2, and ending UConn's five-game winning streak.
Although UConn won the weekend series two games to one, coach Jim Penders was all but pleased with his team's performance in the series finale.
"We gave them too many free bases and opportunities. They took advantage of them. They made us pay. We left too many men on base," Penders said. "Their starter did a decent job and deserves credit, but we had a chance to win the ballgame and we didn't."
"Georgetown did a better job capitalizing on runners in scoring position," said second baseman Pierre LePage, who went 2-of-4 with an RBI Sunday. "We only scored two runs and that's not enough to win a ballgame. We struggled today to have good at-bats in big situations, and we fell short today."
Sunday's story was all about squandered opportunities. George Springer struck out to end the contest with the bases full of Huskies. In the seventh, runners were stranded on first and second base, while the sixth inning ended with the bases loaded. However, it was not the same story with Georgetown. Tommy Lee's standup triple in the top of the third scored two, and Greg Pustizzi's RBI single in the fourth scored the speedy Tom Elliott. Muir's sacrifice bunt boosted the lead to 4, and the Huskies would never convert on any of their many chances to tie the game. With the loss, UConn's southpaw Greg Nappo fell to 2-3.
On Friday, UConn overcame a first inning 2 run deficit to win 9-5. Pitcher John Folino had a great performance over 6 innings of work. He allowed three runs with seven strikeouts that included striking out the side in the second inning. Dan Mahoney had a fine relief performance shutting down the Hoyas in the ninth, and retiring them in order. In the 3rd, Nick Ahmed hit a 2-run homer to right just below the scoreboard that capped off a 4-run inning for UConn. Harold Brantley Jr. continued his hot streak going 2-5 with 2 RBI, and a stolen base.
Although UConn won the weekend series two games to one, coach Jim Penders was all but pleased with his team's performance in the series finale.
"We gave them too many free bases and opportunities. They took advantage of them. They made us pay. We left too many men on base," Penders said. "Their starter did a decent job and deserves credit, but we had a chance to win the ballgame and we didn't."
"Georgetown did a better job capitalizing on runners in scoring position," said second baseman Pierre LePage, who went 2-of-4 with an RBI Sunday. "We only scored two runs and that's not enough to win a ballgame. We struggled today to have good at-bats in big situations, and we fell short today."
Sunday's story was all about squandered opportunities. George Springer struck out to end the contest with the bases full of Huskies. In the seventh, runners were stranded on first and second base, while the sixth inning ended with the bases loaded. However, it was not the same story with Georgetown. Tommy Lee's standup triple in the top of the third scored two, and Greg Pustizzi's RBI single in the fourth scored the speedy Tom Elliott. Muir's sacrifice bunt boosted the lead to 4, and the Huskies would never convert on any of their many chances to tie the game. With the loss, UConn's southpaw Greg Nappo fell to 2-3.
On Friday, UConn overcame a first inning 2 run deficit to win 9-5. Pitcher John Folino had a great performance over 6 innings of work. He allowed three runs with seven strikeouts that included striking out the side in the second inning. Dan Mahoney had a fine relief performance shutting down the Hoyas in the ninth, and retiring them in order. In the 3rd, Nick Ahmed hit a 2-run homer to right just below the scoreboard that capped off a 4-run inning for UConn. Harold Brantley Jr. continued his hot streak going 2-5 with 2 RBI, and a stolen base.
Be the first to comment on this story