The Huskies have raced out to a 10-2 start in Big East play.
UConn baseball continued its hot streak over the weekend, dominating Villanova in a weekend sweep. The Wildcats didn’t threaten until the eighth inning of the final game and the Huskies have now won eight straight games and 15 of 17, while they’re also two games ahead of each of the other Big East teams in the loss column with three weekends to play.
Friday: UConn 8, Villanova 2
The Huskies got off on the right foot, as Villanova got its only runs in the ninth, while UConn scored all eight runs in its first three at-bats.
Stephen Quigley retired the first six hitters he faced and scattered just three hits over eight innings of shutout ball. He faced just two hitters over the minimum and struck out eight with zero walks. A runner didn’t reach third on his watch.
Meawhile, the Huskies got going in a hurry. Luke Broadhurst hit his 11th home run of the season to put his team up 2-0 after one inning, while Maddix Dalena led off the second with a double and came around to score on a TC Simmons single before the onslaught truly began.
The first four UConn hitters reached, as Korey Morton hit a two-bagger, then Bryan Padilla, Dalena and Jake Studley each singled to score three runs and chase Villanova starter Jake Francis after just two-plus innings. Ryan Hyde was able to reach on a fielder’s choice and was on third after a passed ball and wild pitch, putting him in position to score the fourth run of the frame on Caleb Shpur’s infield single. Shpur crossed the plate just one batter later, as he stole second to put himself in scoring position for Paul Tammaro.
Hyde was the only other UConn runner to reach scoring position the rest of the evening, as Villanova pitching dealt with traffic, but was able to bear down when needed and keep the Huskies at eight. Most of this was done by Rian Schwede, who pitched five innings of scoreless relief with just three hits allowed.
Villanova was able to break through in the ninth once Quigley exited after 110 pitches. Hector Alejandro allowed the first three hitters he faced to single, scoring a run. While he struck out the next two, he walked a Wildcat to load the bases and force his exit in favor of Joe Carrea. The first batter he faced recorded a hit, but he struck out the next one to end the night.
Saturday: UConn 11, Villanova 1
Garrett Coe went the distance on Saturday for UConn and did not give up an earned run. He committed an error to put a runner in scoring position in the eighth and Luke Broadhurst made a second miscue, which would have otherwise ended the inning, allowing that runner to score Villanova’s only run, but by then, it was well out of reach.
Caleb Shpur got the scoring started, as he led off the bottom of the first with a double and moved to third on a flyout to center field. After a passed ball, he crossed the plate and put his team up for good.
This wasn’t without great defense, however. Both corner outfielders, Jake Studley in right and Korey Morton in left, made strong defensive plays in the second. Studley got the first out with a diving play toward the line, while Morton climbed the fence to rob what would have been a go-ahead home run.
While the Huskies got runners on in the second and third, they didn’t score again until the fourth, when Matt Malcom took a middle-away fastball deep over the center field fence for a 3-0 advantage.
Meanwhile, Coe was dealing. He faced two hitters over the minimum through the third inning, then started a stretch of 10 straight retired Wildcats that lasted into the sixth. By then, the Huskies were well ahead and were about to really pour it on.
UConn scored its fourth run in the fifth with some aggressive baserunning. Villanova tried to back pick Broadhurst, who was on first base, with Paul Tammaro on second. The throw went into right field and Tammaro raced around to beat the throw home and score.
Each Husky came to bat in the sixth, netting them five runs and a domineering 9-0 advantage. Tyler Minick drove in Maddix Dalena, who walked to start the frame, then Tammaro’s flare into left field sent home two more. A Morton fielder’s choice, in which everyone was safe, plated the final tally.
Dalena was able to complete the scoring with a two-run homer in the seventh.
Sunday: UConn 10, Villanova 8
What was looking like another dominating victory rapidly came undone as the Huskies led 8-1 after six innings, but by the middle of the eighth, the game was tied.
Ian Cooke set his team up for success, with just run allowed over six innings of work. He scattered four hits and one walk, striking out one hitter.
Joe Cinella entered to start the seventh and wasn’t able to record an out, as he allowed a home run on the first pitch he threw, then a double just two after that. UConn head coach Jim Penders had seen enough and Cinella was lifted in favor of Jack Sullivan. He allowed a single to the first hitter he faced, plating another run, but got a strikeout and double play to stop the bleeding.
Braden Quinn was assigned the eighth inning, with the lead now sitting at five runs, and he was not able to hold it. He retired the leadoff hitter, but then surrendered five straight singles. By the time he departed and relieved by Brady Afhtim, the advantage had shrunk to two and the tying run was on first base.
Afthim allowed both of his inherited runners to cross the plate for a tie game, but stranded the go-ahead run on second base, then left two runners on base in the ninth.
Ryan Hyde walked with two outs and moved to second on a balk, but he wasn’t able to get across the plate. That set the scene for Korey Morton. He was 4-for-5, scoring three runs, driving in three more and none were bigger than those that came on his two-run, walk-off home run. He got a hanging 1-0 breaking ball and crushed it over the left-field fence, plating Luke Broadhurst, who started the inning with a double.
He was the second corner outfielder to drill a deep fly on the day, as Jake Studley knocked a grand slam, taking it to the opposite field.
—
UConn (25-18, 10-2 Big East) will have the week off for final exams and return to action on Friday on the road against Seton Hall. First pitch on FloSports is at 4 p.m.