University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Northeastern
Five-Run Eighth Propels No. 18 UConn to Win at Northeastern
5/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BROOKLINE, Mass. - In a battle between the top Northeast teams in the country, the No. 18 UConn baseball team scored five runs with two outs in the eighth inning to defeat Northeastern, 6-5, in a wild contest at Friedman Diamond.
The Huskies trailed 2-1 entering the eighth inning and had no one on with two outs. Stefanski walked and then Mike Woodworth worked an eight-pitch at bat that ended in a single into centerfield. Left-handed swinging Chris Winkel gave UConn the lead by lining a 1-2 pitch into right centerfield against Northeastern's closer, LHP Andrew Misiaszek, for a two-run double to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
After a Christian Fedko RBI single, Conor Moriarty drilled his third home run of the year, a two-run shot to push UConn's lead to 6-2.
Northeastern battled back in the bottom of the eighth by scoring three runs with two outs. Isaac Feldstein made a sliding catch with the tying run at third base and go-ahead run at first to end the inning and preserve the one-run advantage.
The UConn defense kept the Huskies in the game with John Toppa leaping at the wall and bringing back a potential grand slam home run in the third inning. The grand slam would have extended Northeastern's lead to 6-1.
Huskies come from behind to beat Northeastern, 6-5!
Coach Penders on the Huskies record-breaking win!https://t.co/DLtqY67jCD via @YouTube-- UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) May 9, 2018
The UConn bullpen was solid in the middle innings with CJ Dandeneau, Dan Rajkowski and Jeff Kersten combined for 4.1 scoreless innings, allowed three hits and four strikeouts.
P.J. Poulin recorded a four-out save, his 13th of the season, to lock down the Huskies 22nd victory on the road this season. The 22 road wins sets a new program record for UConn (2010, 21).
The Huskies shift their focus to American Conference play with first place Houston coming to town for a three-game series. UConn sits 1.5 games back of the Cougars entering the weekend.
Notes
Wednesday's comeback was the third time this season that the Huskies came from behind to win when they trailed entering the eighth inning.
P.J. Poulin has thrown 8.1 consecutive scoreless innings after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings on Wednesday to lock down his 13th save of the year.
Poulin is tied for second in single-season history with 13 saves. John Russell set the record with 14 saves in 2017.
The Huskies have won the last two games in Brookline when trailing going into the eighth inning. The Huskies trailed 8-3 heading into the eighth inning in 2016 and came back to win 9-8. UConn hasn't lost to Northeastern in Brookline since 1996 (9-0).
