University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Drops 10-5 Decision at South Alabama
3/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MOBILE, Ala. (March 2, 2007) — David Doss’ eighth inning grand slam broke a 5-5 tie and lifted South Alabama to a 10-5 victory over the University of Connecticut baseball team Friday evening from Stanky Field.
South Alabama right fielder Bill Kleinschrodt led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a walk before left fielder Clint Toomey reached base with a bunt single to first, advancing Kleinschrodt to second in the process. After both runners moved up one base on a failed pickoff attempt by the Husky infield, UConn reliever Ted Garry (Rochester, Minn.) retired Ray Kruml on a groundout to the pitcher, preventing either runner from advancing. The Huskies then intentionally walked Ryne Jernigan to load the bases, setting up a situation in which there would be a force out at any base. Ross, however, failed to cooperate as he notched his third home run of the season with a shot over the left center wall. The Jaguars tacked on another run in the inning when Jeff Cunningham collected his second home run of the evening.
UConn (1-3) grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI groundout off the bat of junior center fielder Gordon Stevens (Vista, Calif.). Left fielder Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) led off the frame with a single to left before junior designated hitter Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) followed with a single to center. Three batters later, Gordon collected his first RBI of the season with a groundout to the right side.
South Alabama (8-4) answered with three runs in the home half of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead after two. Cunningham opened the inning with his first home run of the night, tying the game at one with a shot over the right field wall. Kruml and Jernigan would add RBI singles later in the inning to account for the final two runs.
Senior Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.) cut the USA deficit to just one run in the top of the third when he belted his first home run of the season. The Huskies would eventually even the score at three runs apiece in the top of the sixth as UConn capitalized on a Jaguar fielding error by Toomey. Senior Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) started things with a single to left field and scored on the following play when Toomey was unable to handle Mahoney’s double down the left field line cleanly.
UConn regained the lead in the top of the seventh when Donovan struck for his second roundtripper of the evening. Senior catcher Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) led off with a single up the middle before Donovan crushed a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall.
The Jaguars answered in their half of the seventh, plating a pair of runs to tie the score at five runs apiece. Doss delivered an RBI single and shortstop Bunky Kateon drew a two-out bases loaded walk for the equalizing run.
USA reliever Brett Turner (1-0) earned the win after allowing two runs on three hits while walking none and striking out three in two innings of mound duty.
Garry (0-1) took the loss for the Huskies after allowing five runs on three hits while walking two and striking out none in one inning of work.
Husky starting pitcher Mike Tarsi (Danbury, Conn.) got a no decision after allowing three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out four in six innings on the hill.
Donovan paced the Huskies at the plate with a 3-for-5 night and finished the game with a team-high three RBIs. Untiet and Mahoney also registered multi-hit games.
UConn returns to the diamond Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. when the Huskies face South Alabama in the second game of a three-game series.
South Alabama 10, Connecticut 5 (Mar 02, 2007 at Mobile, Ala.)
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Connecticut......... 011 001 200 - 5 11 2 (1-3)
South Alabama....... 030 000 25X - 10 12 1 (8-4)
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Pitchers: Connecticut - TARSI, Mike; KARL, Matt(7); GARRY, Ted(7); BLUMETTI, Stephen(8).
South Alabama - Goldberg; Turner(7); Doss(9).
Win-Turner(1-0) Loss-GARRY, Ted(0-1) T-3:09 A-578
HR UCONN - DONOVAN, Dennis 2 (2).
HR USA - Doss (3); Cunningham 2 (5).
-UCONN-
