University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Edged at South Alabama, 3-2
3/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MOBILE, Ala. (March 4, 2007) — Shortstop Bunky Kateon's sixth inning sacrifice fly proved to be the margin of victory Sunday afternoon as South Alabama held off the University of Connecticut baseball team, 3-2, in the final game of a three-game series from Stanky Field.
UConn (1-5) mounted a ninth inning comeback, but fell just short of plating the equalizing and go-ahead runs. Sophomore Dale Brannon (St. Petersburg, Fla.) led off the inning with a single through the right side before senior Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) reached with a one-out single. Fellow senior Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.) drew a walk to load the bases, but USA reliever Chris LaGrow induced Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) into a game-ending double play to preserve the win for the Jaguars.
South Alabama (10-4) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after an inning of play. Infielder David Doss drove home the Jaguars' first run with an RBI double to right field, and would later score the final run of the frame on a wild pitch.
The Huskies answered with a run in the top of the second inning on back-to-back-to-back two-out singles from the bottom of the lineup to cut the Jaguar deficit to 2-1. Junior Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) started the rally with a single to left field before Matt Burnett (Endicott, N.Y.) followed with a single of his own into right field. Senior outfielder Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.) capped the rally with a single up the middle to drive home Mahoney from second base.
After Kateon's sac fly in the bottom of the sixth gave the Jaguars a 3-1 advantage, the Huskies quickly responded with a run in the top of the seventh on a one-out sacrifice fly from Untiet, sliming the USA lead to 3-2. The Huskies would get no closer, however, failing to score runs in the final two innings.
Jaguar starting pitcher Brandon Sage (2-2) picked up the win after allowing one run on five hits in 5-1/3 innings of work.
Despite being charged with the loss, UConn freshman Greg Nappo (Madison, Conn.) turned in a strong pitching performance in his first career start, yielding three runs (two earned) on seven hits in 5-2/3 innings of mound duty. Sophomore Erik Turgeon (Palm Harbor, Fla.) worked the final 2-1/3 innings and surrendered just two hits.
Brannon, the only Husky to register a multi-hit performance, finished the afternoon with a 2-for-5 showing to lead the UConn offensive attack.
UConn returns to action Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. when the Huskies take on Western Michigan from Jacksonville, Fla.
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