University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
1-0
University of South Florida
0-1
HookC Notches 5-4 Extra Inning Victory at USF on Opening Night
2/19/2022 12:57:00 AM | Baseball
TAMPA, Fla. – The UConn baseball team (1-0) notched a 5-4 Opening Night victory in 10 innings against the USF Bulls on Friday night at Red McEwen Field.
Grad transfer Casey Dana provided a go-ahead, solo homer in the top of the 10th inning to push the Huskies ahead for good.
Welcome to #UConn, Casey Dana! pic.twitter.com/VDSOdVwPW0
— UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) February 19, 2022
Starting pitcher Austin Peterson dazzled for the Huskies with a career-high 13 strikeouts. The right-hander logged 5.2 innings, allowing just one earned run and gave up just five hits. Peterson escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning with back-to-back punch-outs. The tri-captain then stranded runners at the corner in the fifth inning.
The Huskies jumped on the board first with T.C. Simmons delivering a two-out RBI double to plate Christian Fedko.
After the Bulls tied it, Fedko pushed the Huskies back in front with an RBI single in the fourth inning. The UConn captain finished the day with a pair of hits, a walk and run scored.
After the Bull plated three in the sixth, the Huskies responded right away. Simmons and Chris Brown recorded back-to-back doubles to make it a 4-3 deficit. USF then brought in their closer, Orion Kerkering and the Huskies were able to tie the game on an Erik Stock two-out RBI single.
Fire us up, Petey! pic.twitter.com/1zYYxl75fq
— UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) February 19, 2022
The other Husky captain, Stock, recorded a three-hit night with a run scored.
The Huskies received a stellar debut from freshman Ian Cooke. The New Milford, Conn. native picked up his first career win with 2.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit, no walks and four strikeouts. The right-hander navigated out of trouble on multiple occasions to keep the Huskies in a tie ballgame.
Justin Willis finished out the night with a scoreless ninth to close out the ballgame.
UConn returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 12 p.m. against Charlotte. The game will be streamed on MIXLR.
Game Notes
- The Huskies notched its first Opening Day victory since 2019 when the Huskies defeated No. 4 Louisville, 3-2. A different No. 9 who just transferred to UConn, Paul Gozzo, delivered the go-ahead home run late in the ballgame.
- This was the Huskies first extra-inning game on Opening Day since losing 6-5 in 10 innings against Northwestern in Clearwater, Fla in 2010.
- Austin Peterson posted a career-high 13 strikeouts in his 2022 debut.
- Ian Cooke notched his first career win with 2.2 shutout innings of relief.
- David Smith, Ben Huber, Casey Dana, Matt Donlan, Cole Chudoba and Cooke all made their UConn debuts on Friday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cooke, Ian (1-0)
L: KERKERING, O (0-1)
S: Willis, Justin (1)
Batting:
2B: Stock, Erik 1 ; Fedko, Christian 1 ; Simmons, T.C. 2 ; Brown, Chris 1
HR: Dana, Casey 1
RBI: Stock, Erik 1 ; Dana, Casey 1 ; Fedko, Christian 1 ; Simmons, T.C. 1 ; Brown, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stock, Erik 1 ; Dana, Casey 1 ; Fedko, Christian 1 ; Simmons, T.C. 1 ; Brown, Chris 1
CS: Bushling, Zach 1
Batting:
2B: EATON, J. 1
HR: CANTU, D. 1
RBI: ROZENBLUM, B 1 ; CANTU, D. 1 ; EATON, J. 2
SH: RUIZ, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CANTU, D. 2 ; GONZALEZ, N. 1 ; EATON, J. 1
SB: ROZENBLUM, B 1 ; CANTU, D. 1
HBP: BRUTCHER, D. 1 ; BOSER, B. 1
