University of Connecticut Athletics
Late Comeback Gives Rutgers 9-4 Win Over Baseball
4/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 5, 2007) — Shortstop Todd Frazier’s eighth inning grand slam broke open a one run game as Rutgers defeated the University of Connecticut baseball team, 9-4, Thursday afternoon at Bainton Field.
UConn (13-13, 3-4 BIG EAST) held a 4-0 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, but Rutgers rallied for nine runs over the seventh and eighth innings en route to the five-run victory.
Rutgers catcher Jon Gossard recorded a one-out single to start the seventh inning rally before third baseman Tim Querns walked to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Victor Cegles was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. UConn starting pitcher Mike Tarsi (Danbury, Conn.) next retired center fielder Luis Feliz via strikeout before walking Frazier to bring home the Scarlet Knight’s first run of the game. After UConn brought on reliever Ted Garry (Rochester, Minn.) in relief of Tarsi, second baseman Mike Bionde tied the game at four runs apiece as he cleared the bases with a three-run double down the left field line.
Rutgers (15-12, 5-2 BIG EAST) struck for five more runs in the bottom of the eight on Frazier’s team-leading 11th home run of the season. Designated hitter Dave Williams opened the inning with a single through the left side before taking third when Gossard collected a one-out single through the left side. Querns then gave the Scarlet Knights a 5-4 lead as he delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to score Gossard with the go-ahead run. Right fielder Brett Garlick followed with a single and Feliz reached on an error on the UConn infield to load the bases before Frazier tallied his game-high fifth RBI of the afternoon.
The Huskies tallied the game’s first run and took a 1-0 lead in the process as junior Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) extended his hitting streak to seven games in the top of the first. Senior first baseman Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) drew a two-out walk before senior shortstop Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.) singled to center field to advance Untiet up one base. Karl followed with a single into right field to plate Untiet.
UConn tacked on a second run in the top of the second inning to up its lead to 2-0. The Huskies once again used timely hitting as freshman left fielder Peter Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) delivered a two-out single to left field to score right fielder Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.), who has hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, from second base.
After the Connecticut offense was held in check over the next four innings, the Huskies scraped across two more runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 4-0. Donovan started things when he was hit by a pitch with one out before Karl followed with a single down the left field line. Senior catcher Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) produced both runs in the inning as he doubled to left-center to plate both runners.
Rutgers reliever Jason Downey (3-1) earned the win after allowing no runs on one hit while recording four strikeouts in 2-2/3 innings of work.
Garry (1-2) took the loss for the Huskies after surrendering five runs (one earned) on five hits in 1-1/3 innings on the hill.
UConn returns to the diamond Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. when the Huskies take on Rutgers in the second game of a three-game series. The game was originally scheduled for 3:00 p.m., but anticipated cold playing conditions pushed back the game two hours.
Rutgers 9, Connecticut 4 (Apr 05, 2007 at Picataway, N.J.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Connecticut......... 110 000 200 - 4 7 1 (13-13, 3-4)
Rutgers............. 000 000 45X - 9 12 2 (15-12, 5-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Connecticut - TARSI, Mike; GARRY, Ted(7). Rutgers - GIANNINI; DOWNEY(7).
Win-DOWNEY(3-1) Loss-GARRY, Ted(1-2) T-2:48 A-67
HR RUTGERS - FRAZIER (11).
Game notes:
ID-530309
Game: CONN0405
-UCONN-
