University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Memphis
Huskies Clinch Fifth-Straight American Series, 2-0
5/5/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The No. 19 UConn baseball secured its fifth-straight American Conference series win with a 2-0 pitcher's duel victory on Saturday at FedEx Park.
After a one-hour and forty minute rain delay UConn received another tremendous outing from its starting rotation. Junior Jeff Kersten featured one of his best sliders of the season and racked up a career-high eight strikeouts.
The right-hander dealt six scoreless innings, allowed only three hits and walked just one in his outing. The Pinole, Calif. native grabbed his second-straight series-clinching win for the Huskies after winning a rubber game against Tulane last Sunday.
The UConn defense helped out Kersten in the sixth with the Huskies leading 2-0. Colton Neel singled into centerfield with two outs and a runner on second base. Troy Stefanski fired a bullet towards the plate that was on the first base side of home plate. Catcher Zac Susi snagged the throw, dove and tagged out the runner to keep it 2-0.
The UConn offense did just enough with a pair of RBIs coming with two outs. In the third inning, Isaac Feldstein scorched an RBI single into center to plate Prato from second.
UConn added a run in the fifth with a two-out rally. Prato singled and then moved up on a dirt ball read into scoring position. Zac Susi singled off the glove of the diving first baseman and Prato scampered around third to make it 2-0 Huskies.
The UConn bullpen did their job from there. Jake Wallace recorded a scoreless seventh inning while P.J. Poulin recorded a six-out save to lock down the series. All of Poulin's six outs were punch-outs for the junior and the Marion, Mass. native notched his 12th save of the year.
The victory was the 21st road win of the year for the Huskies which ties a program-record set in 2010. UConn has three road games remaining on the slate.
The Huskies look to grab their first American Conference sweep tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET to close out the final conference road trip of the season.
Notes
Zac Susi reached base for the 30th-straight game. The junior has failed to reach base in just one game this season, reaching in 36 of his 37 contests.
P.J. Poulin is tied for third all-time in single-season history with his 12 save of the year. John Russell set the save record last season with 14 saves.
The Huskies pitching staff captured its fourth shutout of the season.
UConn clinched its fifth-straight conference series for the first time since 2011. In 2011, the Huskies won all nine Big East Conference series they played.
