University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Ohio State University
Offense Heats Up, HookC Grabs First Win of 2023
2/18/2023 10:03:00 PM | Baseball
SARASOTA, Fla. - The UConn baseball team (1-1) grabbed its first win of the 2023 season with a 9-6 victory against Ohio State to even the four-game series at a game a piece.
After a quiet night at the plate on Friday, the UConn offense came alive in the third inning on Saturday. With the Huskies trailing 1-0, Jake Studley beat out an infield single and advanced to second on a David Smith single into left center.
Right fielder Korey Morton gave UConn its first runs and first lead of the young season with a two-run triple to the right center field gap. It was the start of big day for Morton.Â
The Norwalk, Conn. native scored a career-high four runs and tied his career-high with four runs batted in. The junior outfielder added a two-run homer in the seventh inning and stole a key base in the ninth inning.
Dominic Freeberger followed suit with a two-run homer of his own in the fifth. The Baltimore, Md. native drove in four runs including a key RBI single that gave the Huskies a bit more breathing room in the ninth inning.Â
RHP Jack Sullivan earned the victory in his first career start. The Carmel, N.Y. native tossed a career-high 5.1 innings, allowed two earned runs, two walks and struck out a pair.Â
After Sullivan exited in the sixth, RHP Brady Afthim escaped a bases loaded jam with an inning-ending double play to keep the Huskies up 6-2.Â
The Huskies got into a bit of trouble in the seventh with the Buckeyes scoring four runs without the benefit of a hit. Devin Kirby came out of the pen and settled things down to keep the UConn lead at 8-6.
Kirby earned his first career save with three no-hit innings of work out of the pen including a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
The Huskies and Buckeyes are back at it tomorrow at Ed Smith Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
Game Notes
- The UConn 1-2-3 hitters of Smith, Morton and Freeberger combined for seven runs scored, six hits and all nine runs batted in.
- Jake Studley posted his first career multi-hit effort as a Husky.
- Korey Morton scored a career-high four runs and tied his career-high with four runs batted in.
