University of Connecticut Athletics
Furious Comeback Gives Rutgers 12-10 Win Over Baseball
4/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (April 7, 2007) — Rutgers shortstop Todd Frazier's walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a three-run inning as the University of Connecticut baseball team was defeated by the Scarlet Knights, 12-10, Saturday afternoon from Bainton Field.
Trailing 10-9 entering the bottom of the ninth, Rutgers completed its third come-from-behind victory of the series to earn a sweep of the Huskies. Catcher Frank Meade starting the inning by reaching base on an error charged on the UConn infield before taking second on the following play when right fielder Brett Garlick grounded out to third base. Pinch hitter Jon Gossard next tied the game at 10 runs apiece with a single before Frazier propelled Rutgers to victory with his third home run of the series.
UConn (13-15, 3-6 BIG EAST) held a 9-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh as the Huskies had built their lead by scoring runs in five of the first seven innings, but Rutgers erupted for 11 runs over the final three innings to earn the dramatic victory.
The Huskies took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when senior Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) notched his team-leading 19th RBI of the season with a single into right field to score freshman Peter Fatse (Hampden, Mass.). Rutgers, however, answered with a run in the home half of the inning to even the score at one run apiece on a two-out single from Tom Edwards.
UConn plated five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-1 lead. Junior designated hitter Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) led off the frame with a home run to right field for his second round-tripper of the season. Senior Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) followed with a single up the middle before junior Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) also singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. Sophomore Erik Turgeon (Palm Harbor, Fla.) then advanced both runners one base with a sacrifice bunt before freshman Harold Brantley Jr. (Silver Spring, Md.) plated Day with a single on the infield. Fatse capped the outburst with a three-run home run over the right field wall for his second four-bagger of the year.
Karl added an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning to give UConn a 7-1 edge, and senior shortstop Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.) added an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning. Fatse notched his game-high fourth RBI of the day with an RBI double in the top of the seventh to give UConn an eight run advantage.
Rutgers (17-12, 7-2 BIG EAST) erupted for six runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut UConn's lead to 9-7 highlighted by RBI singles from Frazier and David Williams.
The Huskies scored their final run of the afternoon in the top of the eight when Donovan raced home on a Scarlet Knight wild pitch. From that point on, Rutgers scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth and three more in the bottom of the ninth to complete the comeback.
Scarlet Knight reliever Chris Lillis (1-1) earned the win in relief after pitching just 1-1/3 of an inning. Starting pitcher Casey Gaynor lasted just 3-1/3 innings as the Huskies touched him for six runs on eight hits.
UConn reliever Ted Garry (Rochester, Minn.) (1-3) took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and 1/3 of an inning. Husky starter Greg Nappo (Madison, Conn.) lasted six inning and allowed five runs while striking out five.
UConn returns to action Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. when the Huskies welcome Massachusetts to J.O. Christian Field. The Huskies originally scheduled game Monday, Apr. 9 against Siena has been moved to Thursday, Apr. 12 from J.O. Christian Field.
Rutgers 12, Connecticut 10 (Apr 07, 2007 at Piscataway, N.J.)
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Connecticut......... 100 511 110 - 10 15 2 (13-15, 3-6 BIG EAST)
Rutgers............. 100 000 623 - 12 12 1 (17-12, 7-2 BIG EAST)
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Pitchers: Connecticut - NAPPO, Greg; KARL, Matt(7); GARRY, Ted(9). Rutgers - GAYNOR;
PATTERSON(4); DOWNEY(6); HILL, D.(8); LILLIS, C.(8).
Win-LILLIS, C.(1-1) Loss-GARRY, Ted(1-3) T-3:00 A-202
HR UCONN - FATSE, Peter (2); KARL, Matt (2).
HR RUTGERS - FRAZIER (13).
Game notes:
ID-530311
Game: CONN0407
