University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Xavier University
No. 20 HookC Scores Four In Ninth to Stun Xavier, 11-9
4/15/2023 10:31:00 PM | Baseball
CINCINNATI - The No. 20 UConn baseball team (26-9, 4-2 BIG EAST) scored four runs in the ninth to take a road series at Xavier (22-14, 4-2 BIG EAST), 11-9, and split a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Hayden Field.
The Huskies dropped the first game of the twin bill, 18-8, as the Musketeers hit five home runs in the ballgame.Â
Ben Huber, Bryan Padilla and David Smith all hit two-run homers in the loss while Michael Quigley threw a career-high 2.2 innings out of the pen.Â
Quigley along with Garrett Coe, Will Nowak and Braden Quinn helped preserve the bullpen for the rubber game of the series.
In the series finale, the Huskies and Musketeers went back-and-forth with five lead changes throughout the game.
Catcher Matt Garbowski collected his first extra base hit, a two-run double, in the second to give UConn the early 2-0 lead.
Xavier responded with four runs across in the second against starter Stephen Quigley. But the Halifax, Mass. native gutted out 6.1 innings to keep the Huskies in the ballgame.Â
The Huskies immediately responded with a three-run third inning that featured a go-ahead three-run homer for Ben Huber to make it 5-4 Huskies. It was the third home run of the series for the UConn first baseman and his team leading 10th of the year.
Xavier tied it up in the bottom of the third with an RBI single from Carter Hendrickson to make it 5-5.Â
Both teams traded runs in the fifth and Dominic Freeberger gave UConn the lead back in the sixth with a two-out RBI double.
Matt McCormick and the Musketeers regained the lead with a two-run homer in the seventh to take an 8-7 lead. After adding a solo homer in the 8th to extend the lead to 9-7, the Huskies were down to their final three outs with the series hanging in the balance.Â
Freeberger led off the 9th with a single and after a Huber sharp ground out to the pitcher, Jake Studley tied the game with a two-run home run.Â
Luke Broadhurst followed with a single and freshman Ryan Daniels hit his first career home run, a two-run shot, to give UConn an 11-9 lead.
Zach Fogell tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth and the Huskies earned its fourth win of the year when they trailed entering their final at bat.
Next up, the Huskies will return home and face Northeastern on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:05 p.m. at Elliot Ballpark.
Game Notes
- The Huskies are now 33-11 in BIG EAST regular season games since returning to the conference in 2021.Â
- David Smith has reached base safely in 25 straight games.
- Jake Studley and Luke Broadhurst are now riding 15-game hit streaks.
- Ben Huber has homered in three-straight games.Â
- The Huskies have won seven straight series and not dropped a series this season.Â
