University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
St. John's University
No.19 HookC Comes Back To Take BIG EAST Opener, 7-5
4/6/2023 4:26:00 PM | Baseball
QUEENS, N.Y. - Trailing 3-0 entering the seventh inning, the UConn baseball team (21-7, 1-0 BIG EAST) rallied to beat St. John's (16-11, 0-1 BIG EAST), 7-5, on Thursday afternoon at Jack Kaiser Stadium.
The Huskies had a tough time against St. John's RHP Xavier Kolhosser who pitched six shutout innings and held the Huskies to just three hits.
Tate Ballestero provided the first blow of the game with a three-run homer to give the Johnnies a 3-0 advantage.Â
After LHP Zach Fogell got out of a first and second, one out jam in the bottom of the sixth, the UConn offense came alive against the St. John's bullpen.
Korey Morton struck out to lead off the inning but reached on a throwing error from catcher Tate Ballestero.  Paul Tammaro followed with a walk to place runners at first and second.Â
The Huskies then received back-to-back pinch-hit RBI singles from freshman Ryan Daniels and sophomore Matt Garbowski.Â
Team captain David Smith then smacked an RBI single to tie the game up at 3-3. Ben Huber gave UConn its first lead of the day with a sac fly to center field and Smith advanced to third base on the fly out.
That proved key as Smith scored a couple pitched later on a wild pitch to make it a 5-3 lead for the Huskies.
St. John's cut the deficit to one in the 8th inning, 5-4, but closer Justin Willis stranded the potential tying run at third and potential go-ahead run at second base.
Huber answered in the ninth with a key two-run homer to give the Huskies a little breathing room at 7-4.Â
Willis closed it out in the ninth to notch his fifth save of the season and move to 1-0 in BIG EAST play.Â
The two team will be off for Good Friday and wrap up the series with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.Â
