Spring Break
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Huskies withstand late Blue Devil come-back bid for third straight road win
Kevin Vellturo
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports
NEW BRITAIN - Behind a bases clearing double in the top of the first and three consecutive two-run innings, the baseball team jumped out to what seemed to be a commanding 9-3 lead against Central Connecticut State University Wednesday afternoon at Beehive Field. Nobody told the Blue Devils, however.
Despite a furious late-inning comeback by CCSU, the Huskies escaped with a 9-7 win. The win is the third in a row for UConn (25-20) who is coming off a sweep at the hands of St. John's over the weekend that knocked it out of the Big East playoff picture for the moment.
According to coach Jim Penders, his team making him sweat out games such as this is nothing new.
"It's been eventful all year," Penders said. "We've won three in a row now. I've got less hair, but we won the game."
The Huskies got on the board early thanks to a two-out bases clearing double by Matt Burnett that sailed over the head of the CCSU left fielder that put them up 3-0.
Freshman Matt Barnes, whom Penders described as having 'weekend stuff' earlier in the week, got the start and shut down Central (20-13) for the first four innings. Barnes got in some trouble in the second inning after a lead-off single, hitting a batter and an error by first basemen Mike Nemeth - the Blue Devils had the bases loaded an only one out. Mitch Wells then hit a sharp ground ball back to Barnes which he fired home to catcher Joe Pavone who then threw to first to complete the double play and end the threat.
UConn would extended the lead to 7-0 with two runs in the top of the fourth and fifth, and although Barnes was tagged for three runs in the bottom of the fifth he came out for the sixth with a 9-3 lead and quickly put down Central one, two, three. Despite the quick inning - it was the end of Barnes' day.
"We're trying not to overtax him," Penders said. "He was up over 100 pitches and had a pretty good outing."
It was when Penders turned the game over to the bullpen that Central began its comeback.
The Blue Devils were able to get a run off Scott Oberg, one of the Huskies most reliable relievers, in the bottom of the seventh. Greg Nappo - who gave up 8 runs against St. John's on Sunday - came in for the eighth inning and made things interesting. After a quick groundout, Nappo surrendered a booming double to Central left fielder Kyle Zarotney that was promptly followed by a towering two-run home run by catcher Sean Connors.
After one more run Penders had seen enough and brought in senior captain Daivd Erickson for the five out save.
"It's what happens when we take a few innings off offensively and don't make some plays down the stretch," Penders said. "Dave Erickson has some 'onions' and is our captain stepped up and made some pitches when he had to."
Although he allowed the first two batters to reach base in the bottom of the ninth, Erickson was able to get the next three out - two by way of the strike out.
Despite a furious late-inning comeback by CCSU, the Huskies escaped with a 9-7 win. The win is the third in a row for UConn (25-20) who is coming off a sweep at the hands of St. John's over the weekend that knocked it out of the Big East playoff picture for the moment.
According to coach Jim Penders, his team making him sweat out games such as this is nothing new.
"It's been eventful all year," Penders said. "We've won three in a row now. I've got less hair, but we won the game."
The Huskies got on the board early thanks to a two-out bases clearing double by Matt Burnett that sailed over the head of the CCSU left fielder that put them up 3-0.
Freshman Matt Barnes, whom Penders described as having 'weekend stuff' earlier in the week, got the start and shut down Central (20-13) for the first four innings. Barnes got in some trouble in the second inning after a lead-off single, hitting a batter and an error by first basemen Mike Nemeth - the Blue Devils had the bases loaded an only one out. Mitch Wells then hit a sharp ground ball back to Barnes which he fired home to catcher Joe Pavone who then threw to first to complete the double play and end the threat.
UConn would extended the lead to 7-0 with two runs in the top of the fourth and fifth, and although Barnes was tagged for three runs in the bottom of the fifth he came out for the sixth with a 9-3 lead and quickly put down Central one, two, three. Despite the quick inning - it was the end of Barnes' day.
"We're trying not to overtax him," Penders said. "He was up over 100 pitches and had a pretty good outing."
It was when Penders turned the game over to the bullpen that Central began its comeback.
The Blue Devils were able to get a run off Scott Oberg, one of the Huskies most reliable relievers, in the bottom of the seventh. Greg Nappo - who gave up 8 runs against St. John's on Sunday - came in for the eighth inning and made things interesting. After a quick groundout, Nappo surrendered a booming double to Central left fielder Kyle Zarotney that was promptly followed by a towering two-run home run by catcher Sean Connors.
After one more run Penders had seen enough and brought in senior captain Daivd Erickson for the five out save.
"It's what happens when we take a few innings off offensively and don't make some plays down the stretch," Penders said. "Dave Erickson has some 'onions' and is our captain stepped up and made some pitches when he had to."
Although he allowed the first two batters to reach base in the bottom of the ninth, Erickson was able to get the next three out - two by way of the strike out.
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