TicketsMarch 26, 2006
STORRS, Ct.---Connecticut's pitching staff once again kept Cincinnati's potent offense in check as the Huskies finished a three-game sweep of the Bearcats, earning a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. The sweep drops the Bearcats' 2006 record to 13-9 overall and 0-3 in BIG EAST action. UConn improves to 12-8, 4-2 BIG EAST.
After pounding out 11 hits yesterday, the Bearcats seemed to be back on track at the plate but UConn starter Mike Tarsi and two relievers limited UC to only five hits on the afternoon. Tarsi also led a 12-strikeout charge by the UConn staff with seven in 5.2 innings of work.
Nick Maragas collected two of Cincinnati's five hits, while Jack Nelson plated a run with an RBI double. Steve Blevins was the hard luck loser for Cincinnati in one of his best outings of the season. Blevins (3-3), allowed all three runs on six hits, while walking one and striking out three. After running into trouble in the first inning, Blevins settled down to record 10 straight outs through the fourth inning.
Connecticut finally broke through against Blevins in the fifth, getting a lead off single by Brian Maler, before Blevins hit Dennis Donovan. Following a double steal, Matt Untiet plated both runners with a double into the left center field ally.
UC would cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth as Mark Muscenti was hit by a pitch and subsequently stole second with two outs. Nelson then dropped a double down the left field line that scored Muscenti for the Bearcats' first run.
Connecticut would reassume its two-run cushion in the sixth when Donovan delivered a double to score Larry Day.
The eighth inning spelled heartbreak for Cincinnati as it would draw within a run, but leave the bases loaded. Cory Hodskins led off with a pinch-hit single and was on second after a Muscenti walk. Logan Parker then shot a hard grounder at UConn second baseman Pat Mahoney that went through his legs for an error, allowing Hodskins to race home. Nelson then loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Matt Karl recovered, though, striking out both Jon DeLuca and Maragas to end Cincinnati's hopes of a comeback.
Tarsi improved to 2-1 with the victory after allowing just one run and four hits. Karl pitched the final two frames for his first save. UConn got two hits from Day and a pair of RBI from Untiet.
The Bearcats will attempt to snap their three-game losing streak when it travels to Miami (Ohio) for a non-conference match-up on Wednesday. First pitch at McKie Field is set for 6 p.m.