Huber Homer Walks Off Huskies, Sweeps Rutgers, 9-7

Sunday, March 26

Storrs, Conn.

1:05 PM

University of Connecticut

16-5

Rutgers University

12-11

Rutgers

Connecticut

3/26/2023 6:47:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - Trailing 7-6 with two-on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Ben Huber smoked a walk-off, three-run homer to right field to lift the UConn baseball team (16-5) to a 9-7 victory against Rutgers in front of 1,175 at Elliot Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.

The walk-off win was the second comeback win of the weekend against the Scarlet Knights and secured a series sweep.

Rutgers scored first for the third time this weekend, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first. Ryan Lasko hit a home run on the first pitch of the ballgame and then the Scarlet Knights loaded the bases with no outs. RHP Jack Sullivan buckled down, getting a 4-6-3 double play and ground out to limit the damage to just two.

UConn immediately answered with a pair of solo home runs from Dominic Freeberger and Jake Studley to tie the score at 2-2.

Rutgers reclaimed the lead in the fourth on an RBI single from Josh Kuroda-Grauer and added two runs in the fifth to build its largest lead of the day, 5-2.

Like they had all weekend, the Huskies were able to respond. Freeberger launched his second home run of the day, a two-run shot, to cut the deficit to 5-4.

Pandemonium in Storrs! #HookC pic.twitter.com/GnNqQbIadC
— UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) March 26, 2023

After a scoreless sixth inning for LHP Garrett Coe, Luke Broadhurst provided some dramatics with a pinch-hit, two-run homer to give UConn its first lead of the day at 6-5.

The Scarlet Knights immediately threatened in the seventh by loading the bases with just one out. Sophomore Brady Afthim came out of the pen and got a strikeout and ground out to end the rally.

In the 8th, Lasko gave the Scarlet Knights the lead back with a his second homer of the day, a two-run shot, to make it 7-6 Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights took a one-run lead into the ninth for the second time this series but the Huskies rallied again.

Korey Morton doubled with one out and Freeberger drew a two-out walk to put the moment in the hands of Ben Huber. The Pendleton, S.C. native capitalized on the opportunity by smoking a 2-1 pitch way over the fence in right field to cap the comeback.

UConn has won six in a row and 10 of its last 11 games. UConn will face red-hot Boston College in a New England showdown on Tuesday, March 28 at 3:05 p.m. at Elliot Ballpark.

Game Notes

The Huskies have won three games this season when they've trailed entering the ninth inning.
UConn tied a season-high with five home runs in the ballgame.
The Huskies are 15-0 this season when they score six runs or more.
The ninth inning is the third highest scoring inning for UConn with 20 runs scored in the ninth this year.