University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Seals USA Challenge Title with Win Over Indiana State
3/12/2005 12:00:00โฏAM | Baseball
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (March 12, 2005) - Despite one more game to play, the University of Connecticut baseball team clinched the USA Challenge title with a 5-3 win against Indiana State on Saturday evening in Millington, Tenn. The win is UConn's third in the USA Challenge and extends its win streak to six games as the Huskies improve to 8-3. Indiana State drops to 2-9.
After a scoreless two innings, the Huskies jumped on the board in the top of the third when junior Austin Wasserman (Nashua, N.H.) doubled to get on base and stole third. He then scored on a sac fly by senior Tony Mallozzi (Marlboro, Mass.) to put UConn on the board at 1-0.
Indiana State then took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to go ahead 3-1. The Huskies would regain the lead in the top of the seventh inning scoring three runs themselves. With one out, Wasserman reached base on a walk. Mallozzi then singled, but ended at third on a throwing error by the shortstop, which scored Wasserman. Junior Bryan Maler (Ansonia, Conn.) collected an RBI when he singled in Mallozzi, and stole second to move into scoring position. Fellow sophomore Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) hit a single to drive in Maler and give UConn the 4-3 lead.
Connecticut added to their lead, scoring its final run in the top of the ninth. Wasserman notched his second hit of the game, and then advanced to second on a sac bunt. Maler then doubled in Wasserman to move the score to 5-3 where it would remain final.
Maler led the Huskies at the plate, with a 3-for-4 performance in which he drove in two runs while scoring one. Day and Wasserman both went 2-for-4, with Wasserman also scoring three of UConn's five runs.
Freshman Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) made his first appearance on the mound for UConn, starting the game and throwing 3.2 innings with three hits and three runs, two of which were earned. Karl was relieved by junior Brendan McGinn (Tolland, Conn.) who pitched 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five.
