Spring Break
Spring in his step
Freshman outfielder goes 4-for-5 with 6 RBI in win
Chris Brodeur
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: Sports
Freshman slugger George Springer turned in yet another impressive stat line to bolster his Big East Rookie of the Year candidacy as UConn trounced in-state rival Quinnipiac 14-4 Monday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field.
The Huskies have won nine of their last 11 contests to improve their record to a season-high six games over the .500-mark at 22-16.
After the Bobcats (10-24) jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first off UConn starter Dave Fischer, Springer launched a three-run bomb over everything in straightaway centerfield - a blast that traveled well beyond the 400 feet it takes to reach the wall. He later added an RBI single and a two-run double to finish with a career-best six RBI to go along with three runs scored. The home run was Springer's 11th, and he stretched his RBI total to 40 to give him the team-lead in that category as well. Coach Jim Penders continues to be impressed with the rookie's performance.
"I was impressed with how he had a couple tough at-bats the last couple games and he doesn't carry at-bat to at-bat," Penders said. "He did a good job today of hitting his pitch, letting the pitch come to him and not going chasing. He only had one strikeout and he doesn't let that affect his next at-bat and that's tough to do for a young guy, separating that."
The Huskies scored nine times off Quinnipiac starter Kyle Birdsall, knocking him out in the fourth inning. Yesterday marked the eighth time in the last 10 outings that UConn was able to reach double-digits in runs. The Huskies are now 13-2 when plating at least 10 runners.
Fischer settled down after a shaky opening frame, fanning five batters in five innings pitched to pick up his first collegiate win. He was unable to retire a batter in the sixth inning, leaving the bases loaded for 6-foot-8 junior right-hander Trent DeLazzer. Making just his third appearance in 2009, DeLazzer got the Huskies out of the jam unscathed, inducing an inning-ending groundout after striking out the first two batters he faced. He gave up just one run in two innings of work - a solo home run Penders says was the result of trying to move the game along with the lead firmly in hand.
"He did a super job," Penders said. "Between him and Scott Oberg, in the last couple days we've had relievers coming in and inheriting runners. There's a lot of starters who owe some dinners because they've done a really good coming in some tough spots and getting outs. Bases loaded, nobody out and he winds up putting up a donut in the inning, that's pretty impressive. With the home run, what he's trying to do there, is let's get outs. That's an unselfish home run on the part of the pitcher there. Let's pitch to contact and get outs."
Senior captain and closer David Erickson worked a scoreless ninth in the non-save situation, racking up another couple of strikeouts to give UConn's pitchers a total of 11 on the game.
Weather permitting, another in-state opponent will be in Storrs tomorrow to take on the Huskies as coach John Slosar - a member of UConn's 1972 College World Series team - brings his Fairfield Stags to J.O. Christian Field for a 3 p.m. start.
The Huskies have won nine of their last 11 contests to improve their record to a season-high six games over the .500-mark at 22-16.
After the Bobcats (10-24) jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first off UConn starter Dave Fischer, Springer launched a three-run bomb over everything in straightaway centerfield - a blast that traveled well beyond the 400 feet it takes to reach the wall. He later added an RBI single and a two-run double to finish with a career-best six RBI to go along with three runs scored. The home run was Springer's 11th, and he stretched his RBI total to 40 to give him the team-lead in that category as well. Coach Jim Penders continues to be impressed with the rookie's performance.
"I was impressed with how he had a couple tough at-bats the last couple games and he doesn't carry at-bat to at-bat," Penders said. "He did a good job today of hitting his pitch, letting the pitch come to him and not going chasing. He only had one strikeout and he doesn't let that affect his next at-bat and that's tough to do for a young guy, separating that."
The Huskies scored nine times off Quinnipiac starter Kyle Birdsall, knocking him out in the fourth inning. Yesterday marked the eighth time in the last 10 outings that UConn was able to reach double-digits in runs. The Huskies are now 13-2 when plating at least 10 runners.
Fischer settled down after a shaky opening frame, fanning five batters in five innings pitched to pick up his first collegiate win. He was unable to retire a batter in the sixth inning, leaving the bases loaded for 6-foot-8 junior right-hander Trent DeLazzer. Making just his third appearance in 2009, DeLazzer got the Huskies out of the jam unscathed, inducing an inning-ending groundout after striking out the first two batters he faced. He gave up just one run in two innings of work - a solo home run Penders says was the result of trying to move the game along with the lead firmly in hand.
"He did a super job," Penders said. "Between him and Scott Oberg, in the last couple days we've had relievers coming in and inheriting runners. There's a lot of starters who owe some dinners because they've done a really good coming in some tough spots and getting outs. Bases loaded, nobody out and he winds up putting up a donut in the inning, that's pretty impressive. With the home run, what he's trying to do there, is let's get outs. That's an unselfish home run on the part of the pitcher there. Let's pitch to contact and get outs."
Senior captain and closer David Erickson worked a scoreless ninth in the non-save situation, racking up another couple of strikeouts to give UConn's pitchers a total of 11 on the game.
Weather permitting, another in-state opponent will be in Storrs tomorrow to take on the Huskies as coach John Slosar - a member of UConn's 1972 College World Series team - brings his Fairfield Stags to J.O. Christian Field for a 3 p.m. start.
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