University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Coastal Carolina
Huskies Win Shootout at No. 30 Coastal Carolina, 12-10
3/13/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CONWAY, S.C. - The UConn baseball team earned a 12-10 victory at No. 30 Coastal Carolina on Tuesday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.
The Huskies (7-6) sprinted out to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Chris Winkel highlighted the inning with a grand slam homer to right field, his second home run of the season. The Huskies entered today with three combined first inning runs through their first 12 contests.
UConn pushed the lead to 10-1 in the second inning on a Thad Phillips two-run double down the right field line.
Huskies grab a big win at No. 30 Coastal Carolina. Here is a fuzzy Coach Penders but the audio quality is 👍https://t.co/XpQPySlJvt
- UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) March 14, 2018
With the wind blowing out, short dimensions at Springs Brooks Stadium and the Huskies up against a top-5 scoring offense in the Chanticleers the game was just getting started.
Coastal posted a three-run third and a five-run seventh inning to close the gap to 12-10.
The Huskies received quality relief outings from Ronnie Rossomando, Jacob Wallace and CJ Dandeneau. Rossomando earned his first win of the season with 1.2 scoreless innings out of the pen.
Junior captain John Toppa goes 2-4 with 3 RBIs and two runs scored in the Huskies 12-10 victory! #UConnNationhttps://t.co/6dAWvJwVuv
- UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) March 14, 2018
The redshirt junior Dandeneau logged 1.1 scoreless innings to lock down his first career save. In the ninth inning, the Chanticleers loaded the bases after a couple questionable calls. The North Smithfield, R.I. native was able to overcome and a great play by Mike Woodworth closed out the game for the Huskies. Woodworth fielded a high chopper back up the middle that the junior second basemen fielded and dove ahead of the runner at second base to record the final out.
UConn moves to 2-2 on their spring break trip and renew its old Big East rivalry with a weekend series at St. John's in Jamaica, N.Y.
Notes
Chris Winkel's grand slam homer was the first granny for the Huskies since Willy Yahn in The American Championship in Clearwater, Fla. on May 23 vs. Cincinnati.
Isaac Feldstein drilled his team-leading fifth home run of the season in the sixth inning.
John Toppa is 8-14 (.571) with four runs scored and five RBIs in the last four games.
