University of Connecticut Athletics
Pitchers dominate in 1-0 win over Massachusetts
4/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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STORRS, CT (April 10) - After scoring 30 runs over the last two games, the University of Connecticut baseball team plated only one run against Massachusetts on Wednesday at J.O. Christian Field, though it was enough for a 1-0 win behind a solid rookie pitching performance.
Freshman Josh MacDonald (Milford, CT) gave up only four hits over eight innings in his first-ever collegiate start to improve to 1-1 on the season. The right-hander struck out three batters without issuing a walk and hitting two. UConn improved to 15-11-0 overall while Massachusetts fell to 9-15-0.
The Huskies picked up the game’s lone run in the bottom of the fourth after junior Brett Burnham (South Windsor, CT) singled to start off the inning. After UMass starter Brandon White retired the next batter, junior Dan Trubia (Tolland, CT) singled and sophomore Mike Mocerino (Northboro, MA) walked to load the bases. A wild pitch from White allowed Burnham to score from third, giving UConn the 1-0 advantage it would never relinquish.
MacDonald retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit after the sixth inning. Though he started the ninth in search of the complete game, sophomore closer Mike James (Roswell, GA) came in to finish after MacDonald hit the first batter of the frame. A sacrifice bunt moved the game-tying run into scoring position, but James got the Minutemen’s Adam Stojanowski to ground out to short for the second out. After Jeff Altieri stole third–the only UMass baserunner to reach there safely all day–James struck out the final batter to pick up his sixth save of the season, setting the UConn single-season record for saves in the process.
Connecticut will look to remain at the top of the BIG EAST Conference when it faces Villanova in a doubleheader on Friday, April 12. The first game is scheduled to begin at noon.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E UMass 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 UConn 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 2Win: MacDonald (1-1).
Loss: White.
Save: James (6).
E: UC Burnham, Stefkovich.
DP: UM 2; UC 1.
LOB: UM 7, UC 8.
2B: UC Soteropoulos.
HBP: UM Altieri, Klett; UC Maloney.
SH: UM Maumus; UC Gorrie, Trubia.
SB: UM Altieri.
Batteries: UM Brandon White (8) and Tom Ellerbrook; UC Josh MacDonald (8), Mike James (1) and Tyler Stefkovich.
