University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Seton Hall University
No. 9 HookC Walks Off In 11th, Clinches Series vs. Seton Hall
5/6/2023 9:19:00 PM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn. - A Jake Studley RBI single in the 11th inning propelled the No. 9 UConn baseball team (34-11, 10-3 BIG EAST) to a 3-2 victory against Seton Hall (25-21, 7-7 BIG EAST) to clinch a series win at Elliot Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.Â
It was the third walk-off of the year for the Huskies and secured the 10th-straight series win for UConn.
The Huskies took an early lead in the first inning after a lead off walk to team captain David Smith. The UConn second baseman then stole second and then swiped third and scored on a throwing error that went down the left field line.
Smith stole three bases on Saturday and now has registered 32 stolen bags on the year. He is the first Husky to steal 30 bases since Jack Sundberg in 2015.Â
After giving up a pair of runs in the second, starting pitcher Stephen Quigley settled into the ballgame. The Halifax, Mass. native notched a quality start with 6.0 innings of work, allowed four hits, two runs and struck out four.
Jake is a STUD!!!
— UConn Baseball (@UConnBSB) May 6, 2023
Walks us off in Storrs!!!! pic.twitter.com/ZhN7d1ArfG
Devin Kirby relieved Quigley and was exceptional out of the pen. The Ukiah, Calif. native tossed 3.1 scoreless frames allowed one hit, no walks and struck out a pair.Â
The Huskies rallied in the seventh to tie the game with freshman Ryan Daniels leading off the inning with a pinch-hit single. Daniels stole second and advanced to third on a Korey Morton sacrifice bunt.Â
Smith followed with an RBI double to even up the score, 2-2.Â
 Kirby worked into the tenth inning until Justin Willis came out of the pen. The UConn closer stranded runners at second and third with a strike out of Staus Pokrovsky to keep the game tied.Â
The Huskies stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th but Willis followed with a scoreless 11th inning.
In the bottom of the 11th, the team captain, Smith, was involved once again in the Huskies scoring. The lead off man worked a one-out walk, stole second and then scored on Studley's line drive single past the diving shortstop into left field.Â
UConn enters Sunday with a five-game win streak and are looking to secure its first three-game BIG EAST series sweep with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch on CW20.
Game Notes
- UConn is 3-0 in extra inning games this season.
- The Huskies secured its eighth win this season when trailing after five innings.Â
- UConn has won five-straight series against the Pirates.
- In five BIG EAST appearances this season. Devin Kirby has thrown 11.0 innings and allowed just one run.
