University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Boston College
Kersten Fires Gem in Penders' 500th Win
3/27/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BRIGHTON, Mass. - Behind a superb pitching performance from Jeff Kersten, the UConn baseball team collected a 4-0 win against Boston College earning head coach Jim Penders his 500th career win.
Kersten logged 8.2 shutout frames allowing just two hits and registering a stretch in which he retired 15 in a row from the fourth inning until a one-out walk in the ninth. Kersten pitched off his fastball utilizing both sides of the plate and utilized his defense that made the plays behind him.
The Pinole, Calif. product tossed 93 pitches with 55 of them strikes to pick up his first career win at UConn. After a pair of walks in the ninth and the tying run in the on deck circle, P.J. Poulin came on to record a one-out save. The seventh of the season for Poulin.
The Huskies didn't need much on the offensive end but scored four runs on 11 hits. UConn took the lead in the sixth on an Isaac Feldstein RBI single, his team leading 20th RBI of the season. Anthony Prato and Zac Susi set up the scoring with back-to-back singles to start the inning in front of Feldstein.
Christian Fedko added to the total with a sacrifice fly to left field that brought in Susi. Susi snuck in with a headfirst dive into home plate to beat the tag of the Eagle catcher.
The Huskies added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth to extend the lead to 4-0.
Up next, the Huskies host Hartford on Thursday, March 29 at 3 p.m. for their home opener at J.O. Christian Field.
Notes
Head Coach Jim Penders recorded his 500th career win on Tuesday. His last milestone victory also came against Boston College with his 400th victory on March 31st, 2015 in Northborough, Mass.
Jeff Kersten recorded his first career-win with a UConn season-high 8.2 shutout innings.
The Huskies move to 2-0 against ACC teams this season.
Huskies have won three-straight contests against the Eagles, lead series 66-53.
Zac Susi collected his team-leading eighth multi-hit game.
P.J. Poulin notched his conference-leading seventh save of the season.
