University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Sacred Heart
Huskies Rally to Defeat Sacred Heart 7-6
3/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 17, 2009
DARIEN, Conn. - The University of Connecticut baseball team used a five-run fifth inning rally to defeat Sacred Heart 7-6 in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at Darien High School.
Joe Pavone (Rochester, N.Y.) recorded a lead-off walk to begin the fifth inning then scored as Harold Brantley, Jr. (Silver Spring, Md.) picked up his second RBI of the game with a double to centerfield. Matt Burnett (Endicott, N.Y.) extended his hitting streak to 18 games as he followed Brantley with a base hit to centerfield to score LePage from third.
Mike Olt (Branford, Conn.) picked up his team-leading fourth homerun of the season on a three-run blast over the left field wall to put the Huskies up 6-5.
With the win, the Huskies even their record to 7-7 on the year, while Sacred Heart falls to 5-7.
UConn scored the first run of the game as Brantley recorded his first hit of the afternoon on a single into centerfield to score Pavone from third after the sophomore reached base on his third double of the year.
The Pioneers tallied five runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-1 lead on five hits and one UConn fielding error. But the Huskies answered back in the fifth with four hits, including Olt's 17th career homerun. The Huskies pushed to a two-run lead in the sixth as Pavone continued to stay hot at the plate with his second double of the game before scoring the Huskies' seventh run of the game. But Sacred Heart cut the lead back to one as Paul Schmidt walked with the bases loaded to make the score 7-6 in the Huskies' favor.
Olt finished the afternoon 1-for-4 with three RBIs, while Pavone scored three runs and connected on two hits. Brantley and LePage each added two hits, respectively, while Brantley added two RBIs.
Matt Barnes (Bethel, Conn.) earned the win for the Huskies, his second of the season, as he struck out a career-high nine batters and allowed seven hits and five runs in six innings of work. Freshman Tim Groth took the loss for the Pioneers, his first of the season as he threw 0.1 innings allowing four runs, three hits and a walk. David Erickson (Stratford, Conn.) recorded his second save of the year as he closed out the game for the Huskies to clinch their seventh victory of the season.
The Huskies will return to action as they open BIG EAST Conference play with a three-game series against West Virginia at J.O. Christian Field. Friday afternoon's game will begin at 3:00 p.m., while the Huskies' battle on Saturday will be at 1:00 p.m. with the series' finale at noon on Sunday.
