University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Drop Final Game of 2004 to West Virginia
5/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, CT (May 23) -- Senior Marc Peluso (Pawcatuck, CT) went 2-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and a run scored in his final game as a Husky, but it was not enough as the University of Connecticut baseball team fell short, 6-5, to West Virginia on Sunday at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs. With the loss, the Huskies complete the 2004 campaign with a 26-29-1 overall mark, and a 9-17 record in BIG EAST play. The Mountaineers finish up 2004 at 23-29, 10-16.
Prior to the game, UConn’s five seniors, Mike James, Mike Leonard, Mike Mocerino, Dave Tokarz and Peluso, were honored as part of the Hartford Courant/CarrerBuilder.com Senior Salute.
West Virginia took an early 4-0 lead highlighted by Curtis Clinton's two run single up the middle in the third inning.
The Huskies quickly responded with a two spot in the home half of the fourth to cut the Mountaineer lead in half. Marc Peluso (Pawcatuck, CT) led off the frame with a double into left center and scored on Mike Leonard's (Vernon, CT) single into left. Jeff Hourigan (Beacon Falls, CT) drew a walk and advanced to second after Leonard was caught attempting to steal third base. However, Tim Dempsey (Lexington, MA) did not let the inning die as he served a single into left field, scoring Hourigan.
UConn would plate another run in the fifth after Tony Mallozzi (Westboro, MA) came around from first to score on Peluso’s second double of the afternoon, drawing the Huskies within one run at 4-3.
West Virginia would extend its lead to 6-3 with two runs in the eighth after Doug Nelms scored on a wild pitch and Travis D’Amico plated the Mountaineers sixth run of the game when he scored on Dave Carpenter’s sacrifice fly.
The Huskies would muster two runs in the bottom half of the eighth to draw within one, but Mocerino was thrown out at home to end the inning and the Huskies went quietly in the ninth.
Russ D’Argento (Marlboro, MA) and Dempsey joined Peluso with two hits on the afternoon. Jeff Hourigan (Beacon Falls, CT) went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in the Huskies record 56th game of the season.
