Nemeth Knocks in Winning Run to Defeat Hartford 4-3

Univ. of Hartford vs Connecticut (Apr 15, 2008)

STORRS, Conn. (April 15, 2008) — Freshman Mike Nemeth (Washington, N.J.) sent a ninth inning, 3-2 pitch through the right side of the infield to score the game winning run as the University of Connecticut baseball team defeated in-state opponent Hartford 4-3 in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs, Conn.

With the victory, UConn improves to 19-18 overall this season as Hartford drops to 12-16 on the year.

Freshman Pierre LePage (Wolcott, Conn.) led off the bottom of the ninth for the Huskies with an infield single and advanced to second on a Gordon Stevens (Vista, Calif.) sacrifice bunt. The Hawks intentionally walked Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) to put runners on first and second with one out before sophomore Peter Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) hit a slow runner to short that Mahoney was able to beat out at second to load the bases. Nemeth then hit a game-ending single to score the winning run after battling in the box on a 10 pitch at-bat.

Earlier in the game, the Huskies jumped to a quick lead in the bottom of the first as LePage recorded the Huskies first run of the game as he led off the inning with a single then advanced to second as Stevens placed down a perfect sacrifice bunt. LePage later scored as Mahoney singled to left center for his 20th RBI of the season.

Hartford tied up the game at 1-1 in the second as Adam Grap was hit by a pitch from UConn starter, Elliot Glynn (Los Alamitos, Calif.). Grap later scored on a wild pitch off Glynn to tie the game. The Hawks added another run in the fourth inning, led by a lead-off walk by Ben Sobocinski. Sobocinski was able to score on a single by teammate Adam Bowser after he advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt by Glynn. The Hawks added another run in the sixth inning as another lead off walk was given out by Glynn. The third run of the game for the Hawks was scored as Grap singled through the left side of the infield.

The Huskies put one run on the board in both the fourth and sixth innings as senior Brad Olt (Branford, Conn.) scored on a single by sophomore Harold Brantley, Jr. (Silver Spring, Md.). In the sixth, Doug Elliot (Rocky Hill, Conn.) worked out a walk and advanced to second as Dale Brannon (St. Petersburg, Fla.) singled through the right side of the infield. Brantley earned a walk in the next at-bat to load the bases before LePage reached base on a fielders choice to second but was able to get Olt home on the play to tie the game at three.

Hartford tried to take the lead in the top of the ninth as a two-out infield single by Drew Sgro, followed by a stolen base, threatened the Huskies' defense. But senior Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.), who came into the game in the seventh inning, struck out Roger Wilmont for his third strikeout of the inning to leave one Hartford Hawk on base.

The bottom of the ninth game winning hit by Nemeth was his second of the game and 39th of the year. LePage, who scored the winning run in the ninth, finished the afternoon with two hits and two runs scored to add to his season's tally of 40 runs and 54 hits. LePage currently leads the UConn ball club in both categories.

Karl earned the win to improve his record to 2-1 as he went 3.0 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four. Glynn left the ball game after 6.0 innings thrown. He gave up three hits and two walks on the afternoon.

Hartford's Sobocinski took the loss to fall 0-2 on the year as he allowed three hits in 1.1 innings pitched along with the UConn winning run. The Hawks were led by four different players with one hit a piece as Grap added one run scored and one RBI to his game's statistics.

UConn travels to Brown University on Wednesday, April 16 for a non-conference battle. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. The Huskies will also host BIG EAST opponent Seton Hall this weekend, starting on Friday with a 3:00 p.m. start time.

-UCONN-