University of Connecticut Athletics
Scott Stays Hot; Huskies Now At .500
4/7/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, CT - By taking a pair of games from Pittsburgh (7-4, 3-1) Saturday afternoon, in Storrs, CT, the University of Connecticut baseball team has completely transformed a squad that opened its season with a 1-10 record into a major factor in the BIG EAST Conference race by winning 11 of its last 13 games. The Huskies record is now 14-14 on the season and 8-4 in league play. With the two losses, Pittsburgh’s mark dropped to 15-14 overall and 3-9 in the conference.
Mike Scott (Jr, Darien, CT) led off a four-run first inning in the opening game with a single to left to extend his hitting streak (Scott hit safely in game two as well to bring the streak to 21 and has had a hit in 26 of UConn’s 28 games). Later on, Jon Gorrie (Jr., Northboro, MA) drove Scott in, before Cy Hess (Jr., Oakdale, CT) made it in on one of three Pittsburgh errors. A Joe Kagerer (Sr., Lebanon, CT) single to right drove in two more in Gorrie and Peter Soteropoulos (So., Peabody, MA) to cap the side of the inning.
UConn built on its lead in the second when Soteropoulos, who went 3-for-4 with a team-leading three RBI, pushed in Scott, who also went 3-for-4 for his 15th multi-hit game this season, to make it 4-0.
A Brad Rea solo shot got Pittsburgh on the board in the fourth, as the Panthers would add another in the fifth and two more in the sixth. A trio of Pitt players (Tony Railing, Mike Zambriczki and Eric Ackerman) all had 2-for-3 days to lead the team.
A Soteropoulos single in the fourth and another to center in the sixth that both plated Gorrie accounted for the Huskies’ other two runs.
Patrick Sperone (Jr., Sicklerville, MA) twirled all seven innings in earning his fifth win this season (5- 1), allowing seven hits, four runs (all earned), and striking out five. Matt Irvin was credited with the loss (1-4) as he also went the distance, giving up 13 hits and seven runs (four earned).
Game two saw UConn get out to a 3-0 lead and then hold on with Pittsburgh having its chances in the final two innings as the Panthers left three on in both frames.
A Gorrie double down the left field line brought in Scott in the first inning and when Kagerer sent his third homer this season to left center in the fifth, which also brought in Soteropoulos, the Huskies had all the points they would need.
Mike James (Fr., Roswell, GA) came on in relief of Chris DeBrisco (Sr., Stamford, CT) in the eighth to work out of the jams, one that he inherited and the other he created, as he earned the first save of his UConn career. DeBrisco was credited with the win to even his record at 2-2. He tossed seven innings, allowing only four hits, no runs and struck out five. Joe Engel was tagged with the loss to move his record to 3-3. Engel went six and a third, giving up six hits, three runs (one earned), while striking out eight.
On the day, Scott went 4-for-7 to bring his BIG EAST leading average up to .433, which is .556 in conference games only, also tops in the league.
UConn has assured itself of being the first team since 1997 to take two of three from the Panthers, and will look to become the first since 1992 to sweep the series. The two teams will meet tomorrow at J.O. Christian field, with the first pitch set for noon.
Game One
UConn, 7, Pittsburgh, 4
Pittsburgh (15-13, 3-8) 000 112 0 - 4 7 3 UConn (13-14, 7-4) 410 101 X - 7 13 0 Patrick Sperone and Mike Leonard. Matt Irvin and Mike Zambriczki. Win-Sperone (5-1), Loss-Irvin (1-4). E-Colamarino (Pitt), Ackerman, 2 (Pitt). 2B-Soteropoulos (UC). HR-Rea (Pitt). SB-Scott (UC), Gorrie, 2 (UC). LOB-UConn-9, Pitt-4 DP- UConn-1, Pitt, 1Game Two UConn, 3, Pittsburgh, 1 Pittsburgh (15-14, 3-9) 000 000 001 - 1 5 2 UConn (14-14, 8-4) 100 020 00x - 3 7 0 Chris DeBrisco, Mike James (8) and Tyler Stefkovich. Joe Engel, Don Rhoten (7) and Charis Britt. Win-DeBrisco (2-2), Loss-Engel (3-3), Save- James (1). E-Spamer (Pitt), Folmar (Pitt). 2B-Gorrie (UC), HR-Kagerer (UC). SB-Railing (Pitt), Gorrie (UC), Tisbert (UC). LOB-UConn-9, Pitt-9 DP- Pitt-1
