University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Downs Pittsburgh in Andy Baylock's Final Game
5/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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STORRS, CT (May 18 ) - The University of Connecticut baseball team won the final game of the season and the final game of head coach Andy Baylock’s 24 year career, with a 10-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday, afternoon at J.O. Christian Field. UConn will finish the season 24-23 and 10-15 in the BIG EAST, while Pittsburgh finishes the season at 36-20 and 13-13 in the conference. Head coach Andy Baylock finishes his career with a 556-492-8 record as the head coach of the Huskies.
Pittsburgh scored the first run of the game when Stuart Rykaceski reached on an error, stole second base and then scored on two errors by the Huskies. UConn would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth with three runs. Peter Soteropoulos (Peabody, MA) started the scoring with a two run single that brought home Russ D’Argento (Marlboro, MA) and Dan Trubia (Tolland, CT). The Huskies third run came on a RBI single by Brett Burnham (South Windsor, CT) to score Soteropoulos for a 3-1 lead.
The Panthers would tie the game in the top of the sixth with two runs. Andre Williams led off the inning with a double, which ended starter Erik Drown’s (Ipswich, MA) no hitter. Then with one out Rykaceski hit a two run home run down the left field line to tie it at 3-3. Pittsburgh would take the lead in the seventh with a RBI single by Alex Rybczak to score Mike Scanzano.
The Huskies would not be denied though as they came back with four runs in the seventh and three runs in the eighth. Bryan Maler (Ansonia, CT) started with a RBI double down the rightfield line. Tyler Stefkovich (Westport, CT) playing in his final game followed with a two run single and Mike Leonard (Vernon, CT) finished the scoring with a RBI single for the 7-4 lead. In the eighth UConn’s runs came on a RBI single by Burnham and a two run single by Mike Mocerino. Husky closer Mike James (Roswell, GA) then shut the door on Pittsburgh picking up his 11th save for a 10-4 final.
Bob Barton (Carlisle, MA) picked up the win in his final game at UConn pitching 1.1 innings in relief. Drown pitched well in his final game taking a no-hitter through five innings. He finished with 6.1 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on three hits and striking out 10. Jimmy Blue picks up the loss for Pittsburgh.
