University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Villanova University
Pitching and Defense Lifts No. 15 HookC to 12th Straight Win
4/22/2022 11:26:00 PM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn. – The No. 15 UConn baseball team (31-7, 7-0 BIG EAST) won its 12th-straight game with a 4-1 victory against Villanova on Friday night at Elliot Ballpark.
The Huskies received a great pitching performance and superb defense along with some timely hitting to earn the series-opening win.
Austin Peterson moved to 8-0 on the year with 8.1 strong frames. He allowed five hits, one run and struck out seven. He left the ballgame in the ninth with runners at second and third and one out.
Closer Justin Willis came on and secured his ninth save of the year with back-to-back strikeouts to notch the Huskies their 31st win of the year.
The Huskies defense came up big throughout the game flashing the leather all over the diamond. Shortstop Bryan Padilla made a great sliding play in the hole, Ben Huber made a great pick on a 6-4-3 double play ball in the sixth.
Second baseman David Smith made a leaping grab in the seventh and Casey Dana made a running grab in the right field corner in the ninth.
Matt Donlan threw out a base runner in the third and Zach Bushling made a few solid plays at the hot corner.
Ben Huber recorded a multi-hit game including a key RBI double in the eighth that extended the UConn lead to 3-1. 5 YR SR Christian Fedko added a sacrifice fly to push the lead to three in the eighth.
Casey Dana had a two-hit night for the Huskies including the base hit to begin the rally in the eighth.
David Smith added an RBI single in the fourth.
The Huskies look to capture a series win on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
