University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Defeats Hofstra 9-4
5/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (May 8, 2006) – Junior Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.) slugged two home runs to lead the Huskies past Hofstra 9-4 on Monday afternoon. The shortstop’s first home run came in the seventh inning to break open the game and pull the Huskies away from the Pride. His second came in the top of the ninth to seal the win for Connecticut. The victory brings UConn’s record to 29-15-1 on the season while the Pride drops to 21-29-1.
With the Huskies ahead by just one run, Donovan drove the second home run of his career over the left field wall to tally two RBI and give UConn a 6-3 lead in the seventh inning. The home run sparked Connecticut’s offense. Two more runs in the eighth inning extended the Huskies’ lead to 8-4. Donovan slugged a solo home run to lead off the ninth inning and bring the final score to 9-4.
The Huskies opened the game with two runs in the first inning. Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) tallied his second home run of the season to notch the team’s first run. To score the second run, junior Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) singled up the middle and scored on a single to left field by senior Bryan Maler (Ansonia, Conn.).
Hofstra responded with two runs of its own in the home-half of the inning. David Cole led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a steal. Cole scored on a double down the left field line by Andy Campana to record the first run of the inning. Matt Kougasian singled to right to score Campana.
The Pride took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Their 3-2 lead would last until the top of the fourth inning when UConn scored two runs to take the lead and not look back.
Connecticut put three pitchers on the mound to handle the Pride. Senior Nick Tucci (Medford, Mass.) started the game off and pitched six innings, scattered nine hits and allowed three runs. Senior Tim Norton (Pascoag, R.I.) came in to relieve Tucci in seventh inning. He threw two innings and gave up one run on three hits. Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) came in to close the game in the ninth and pitched a one, two, three inning.
The Huskies will take the field again on Tuesday, May 9 at the University of Massachusetts.
