University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
St. John's
Pitching Lead UConn to 1-0 Win at St. John's
3/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
QUEENS, N.Y. - The UConn baseball team rebounded from a blowout loss on Friday with their best-pitched game of 2018, defeating St. John's 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium. The shutout was the first of the year for the Huskies.
Mason Feole fired his best start of the season with six shutout innings and tied a career-high with eight strikeouts. The left-hander battled with runners on base in every inning, finishing the day standing eight Johnnies on the bases.
The biggest inning for Mason and the UConn defense came in the bottom of the sixth. After the Huskies stole a run in the top of the inning with John Toppa coaxing a rundown at second base while Troy Stefanski scored from third to take a 1-0 advantage.
Feole gave up back-to-back single to place runners at the corners and no outs. Thad Phillips, who was behind the plate after Zac Susi had to leave the game with injury, threw a strike to second base on an attempted steal by Josh Shaw to grab the first out. Second baseman Mike Woodworth made a great play by applying the tag and holding onto the ball.
Mason Feole fired six shutout innings and tied his career-high with eight punch outs.
Mason's thoughts on today's outing. https://t.co/SxNzdUJ4K5-- UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) March 17, 2018
Feole capitalized by striking out the next two hitters to end his afternoon and strand the tying run at third base.
The bullpen locked down the game from there with Jacob Wallace and P.J. Poulin allowing one base runner in the final three innings. Wallace tossed two perfect frames with three strikeouts while Poulin notched a pair of strikeouts in the ninth to collect his fourth save of the season.
Notes
The Huskies last 1-0 victory came on March 25, 2015 at Seton Hall. Carson Cross pitched 8.2 innings to lock down his 17th career win.
Feole logged his fourth combined shutout of his career with the three previous all coming last season.
The Huskies managed to win despite just three hits in the ballgame. It is the fewest hits the Huskies have accumulated in a game this season.
The Huskies pitching staff struck out 13 batters on Saturday. The most in a game this season.
