University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
23-16, 0
Villanova University
19-11, 0
BSB Gifts Villanova, 3-2, Series Opening Win
5/14/2021 6:25:00 PM | Baseball
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - The UConn baseball team (23-16, 7-4 BIG EAST)Â squandered a 2-0 lead in the 8th inning to drop a 3-2 series opening game against Villanova on Friday afternoon at the Villanova Ballpark.
Austin Peterson and Gordon Graceffo produced a pitcher's duel into the sixth inning when the Huskies were able to push across the first run. Kyler Fedko doubled with one-out and immediately scored on a Chris Winkel RBI single into left center to make it 1-0.
Chris Brown added an RBI single in the seventh to extend the lead to two.
Peterson tossed six shutout innings and exited with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh. Andrew Marrero came out of the bullpen and got the Huskies out of the jam with a pop out to short, a fielder's choice that the Huskies got the force out at the plate and an athletic play by Marrero to snag a wild pitch in front of the batter's box and tag the runner trying to come in and score.
UConn entered the eighth inning with a 2-0 advantage but a single and error in center field allowed the tying run to score. After a hit by pitch, an RBI double gave Villanova its first lead of the game 3-2.
Erik Stock, who recorded his first four hit game as a Husky, doubled to open the ninth inning but was left stranded at third base to end the ballgame.
UConn looks to even the series at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gordon Graceffo (7-2)
L: Marrero, Andrew (0-1)
S: Jimmy Kingsbury (4)
Batting:
2B: Fedko, Kyler 1 ; Stock, Erik 2
RBI: Winkel, Chris 1 ; Brown, Chris 1
SH: Winkel, Pat 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fedko, Kyler 1 ; Stock, Erik 1
SB: Morton, Korey 1 ; Stock, Erik 1
Batting:
2B: Jack O'Reilly 1
RBI: Nick Lorusso 1 ; Jack O'Reilly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chris Rotondo 1 ; Nick Lorusso 1 ; Nick Oar 1
CS: Sam Margulis 1
HBP: Ryan Toohers 1 ; Jack O'Reilly 1
