Elliot's Two-Run Blast Lifts UConn Over URI 11-7

BOX SCORE (.HTML)

STORRS, Conn. (April 9, 2008) — A four run and four hit sixth inning gave the Huskies a three-run lead as the University of Connecticut baseball team defeated the University of Rhode Island 11-7 on Wednesday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field.

Doug Elliot (Rocky Hill, Conn.) led the way for the Huskies as he recorded his second homerun of the season with a two-run blast over the right field wall in the bottom of the second inning.

The Huskies improve their season mark to 17-15 while Rhode Island falls to 11-19 on the year. With the victory, marks head coach Jim Penders' 150th career victory at UConn.

Freshman Mike Hashem (North Andover, Mass.) earned his first win of the season as he struck out three and gave up no runs in two innings. Co-captain David Erickson (Stratford, Conn.) helped close out the game for the Huskies, pitching two innings while striking out four batters.

Rhode Island started off the afternoon with two quick runs, led by a bunt single and two doubles. After the Rams added a run in the top of the second, the Huskies put two on the board as freshman Mike Nemeth (Washington, N.J.) led the inning off with an infield single before Elliot sent the ball over the 330' wall in right field.

After the Rams put another run on the board to go up 4-2, the Huskies battled back with a three-run fourth inning, led by back-to-back singles from Nemeth and Elliot. Freshman Elliot Glynn (Los Alamitos, Calif.) recorded two RBIs in the inning as he singled to left center.

The Rams took back the lead at 7-5 in the following inning as two walks and a wild pitch doomed the UConn pitching staff. The Huskies were able to get back one run to make the score 7-6 in after five innings but then took over in the sixth as a lead-off triple by sophomore Harold Brantley, Jr. (Silver Spring, Md.) gave the Huskies the momentum to take the lead. An error by the Rams' infield scored Brantley from third and put LePage on first base. LePage then scored from first on a failed pick-off attempt by Rams' pitcher Mark Fraser. Elliot added another hit and RBI in the inning to add to his successful performance.

Senior Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) continued to have success at the plate as his single in the sixth continued his hitting streak to 15-games. The Huskies capped off the afternoon with a run in the seventh as Brantley scored on an infield single by freshman Mike Olt (Branford, Conn.).

UConn's Trent DeLazzer (Cypress, Calif.) started on the mound for UConn, for his fifth start of the season. He went three innings and was pulled after giving up four runs, four hits and two walks.

Rhode Island's Fraser took the loss, dropping his season record to 0-3 overall for the Rams.

UConn's Nemeth and Elliot both recorded three hits and two runs while Brantley added three runs and three hits on the afternoon. Mike Olt added two hits for the winning Huskies.

UConn will travel to BIG EAST opponent St. John's this weekend for a three-game conference series. Friday afternoon's game is set to start at 3:00 p.m. while Saturday's match-up will begin at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday will start at noon. The Huskies hold a 50-47 all-time series record against the Red Storm since 1975.

-UCONN-