University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
USF
Six-Run Second Enough For Huskies
3/23/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TAMPA, Fla. - The UConn baseball team opened American Athletic Conference Play with a 6-4 win at USF on Friday night. The Huskies improve to 11-7 and 1-0 in conference.
.@UConnBSB tallied 6 runs in the 2nd inning on the way to taking Game 1 of its conference-opener at USF! LHP Tim Cate had a strong performance and SS Anthony Prato hit a grand slam. See how it happened! 👇 pic.twitter.com/NdNOwZFxGG
- American Baseball (@American_BSB) March 24, 2018
The Huskies pounced on All-American Shane McClanahan in the second inning with six runs on five hits and sent 11 batters to the plate. Isaac Feldstein led off the frame with his seventh home run of the year to make it 1-0 UConn.
Thad Phillips quickly followed with a double down the left field line and scored on an RBI single from freshman Christian Fedko. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, Anthony Prato unloaded on a grand slam homer to lift the Huskies to a 6-0 lead. It was the first homer of the year for Prato and second grand slam the Huskies have hit this season.
The Huskies All-American hurler, Tim Cate, was dominant in five innings of work. The lefthander allowed just five hits, one run and struck out a season-high 11. The first eight outs that Cate got came via strikeout.
With his 11 strikeouts, Cate has 250 career strikeouts, passing Matt Barnes for second all-time in UConn history. Cate is 13 away from tying Anthony Kay (263).
P.J. Poulin recorded his sixth save of the season with 1.1 scoreless innings out of the pen. Jacob Wallace helped bridge the gap to Poulin with a career-high 2.2 innings of work and four strikeouts.
Notes
The Huskies are currently riding a season-high four game win streak. The Huskies have won seven of its last eight contests against the Bulls.
Tim Cate moves to 3-0 all-time vs. USF in 26 innings he has struck out 42 in four starts.
Thad Phillip is in the midst of a four-game hit streak. During the streak Phillips is 7-16 with two doubles, one home run and four RBI's.
Anthony Prato totaled a career-high four RBIs with his grand slam in the second. It is Prato's second career home run and first since February 19, 2017 vs. UMass Lowell in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Isaac Feldstein led the Huskies in 2017 with seven home runs. The Palo Alto, Calif. Native has already equaled his total in 17 games this season.
The Huskies have outscored opponents 27-3 in the second inning this year.
