University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Suffer 16-5 Loss to No. 7 Arizona State
2/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TEMPE, AZ (February 28) - Senior first basemen Marc Peluso (Pawcatuck, CT) went 3-for-3 including a three run game-tying double in the fifth, but No. 7 Arizona State was too much as the Sun Devils rallied and defeated the Huskies 16-5 Saturday afternoon at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. With the victory, the Sun Devils improve to 11-2 on the year, while the Huskies slip to 0-2 in 2004.
Senior tri-captain Mike James, UConn’s all-time saves leader, made his first career start and shut the potent ASU offensive attack down for the first two innings. However, the Sun Devils scored five runs in the third inning to take a 5-0 advantage.
The Huskies would not lie down though, and scored a run in the fourth and added four more in the fifth to knot the score up at five on the strength of Peluso’s three run two-bagger. Bryan Maler (Ansonia, CT), Mike Leonard (Vernon, CT) and Tony Mallozzi (Westboro, MA) came around to score on Peluso’s hit.
However, ASU answered immediately with a six-run fifth inning highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of leadoff man Dustin Pedroia, and a two-run bomb from Travis Buck to break the game open.
Maler enjoyed a 1-2 including a walk and scored one run. D’Argento had a hit and a walk in five plate appearances.
James did not have great command on Saturday, as he walked six batters and allowed nine earned runs in 4.1 innings of work. Tim Norton (Pascoag, RI) pitched 1.1 innings and gave up five runs in relief. Freshman southpaw Ted Garry (Rochester, MN) closed out the game for UConn, giving up two runs in 2.1 innings of work.
The series finale is set for Sunday, February 29 at 3:00 p.m. in Tempe. Reigning National Pitcher of the Week Jason Urquidez will toe the rubber for ASU and Nick Tucci (Medford, MA) will make his 2004 debut.
