University of Connecticut Athletics
Baseball Edged At Notre Dame, 5-4
5/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (May 18, 2007) — Notre Dame pinch hitter Ryan Smith's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning proved to the margin of victory as the Fighting Irish squeaked by the University of Connecticut baseball team, 5-4, Friday evening at Frank Eck Stadium.
With the loss, UConn fell below the eighth spot in the BIG EAST league overall standings following West Virginia's 4-3 win over Georgetown and Cincinnati's 4-2 win over Louisville. To qualify for next week's BIG EAST Tournament, the Huskies must beat Notre Dame Saturday afternoon and need both West Virginia and Cincinnati to lose their respective games.
Trailing 4-3 entering the top of the ninth inning, the Huskies rallied to push across a single run to extend the game into the bottom of the ninth inning. UConn used four different walks throughout the course of the half inning to even the game at four runs apiece. Freshman left fielder Pete Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) drew a free pass to open the inning before taking second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, senior catcher Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) was awarded first base before senior first baseman Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.) walked later in the inning to load the bases. Junior third baseman Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) picked up the RBI in the inning as he battled for a walk with the count full.
Notre Dame (28-25, 11-14 BIG EAST) answered with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim the game by a single run. Fighting Irish left fielder Ross Brezovsky drew a walk to open the inning before second baseman Jeremy Barnes' sacrifice bunt attempt turned into a single to put the first two runners on. After both runners advanced one base on a wild pitch, Husky closer Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) walked first baseman Mike Dury to load the bases, setting up a force out at any base. Smith followed by hitting the first pitch he saw into right field to lift Notre Dame to victory.
The Fighting Irish grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as third baseman A.J. Pollock crossed the plate as UConn retired center fielder Danny Dressman attempting to stretch a single into a double.
UConn (29-25, 9-14 BIG EAST) answered with three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. Untiet led off the inning with a single to center field, but was erased on a force out at second base on the following play as Mahoney singled to right field. The Huskies next received back-to-back singles from Karl and senior right fielder Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.) to load the bases. On the following play, freshman center fielder Harold Brantley Jr. (Silver Spring, Md.) grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Mahoney to score from third. In addition, Karl came around to score from second as Notre Dame shortstop Brett Lilley was charged with a throwing error attempting to turn Brantley's fielder's choice into a double play.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Notre Dame evened the score at three runs apiece with a two run home run to left-center field from catcher Matt Weglarz.
Notre Dame reliever Kyle Weiland (5-2) earned the win after allowing no runs on no hits in an inning of work. Starting pitcher Dusty Phelps worked the first eight innings and surrendered four runs on 12 hits.
Husky reliever Ted Garry (Rochester, Minn.) took the loss after allowing one run one hit as he faced the first two batters of the ninth inning. Freshman starting pitcher Dusty Odenbach (Rochester, N.Y.) turned in a strong outing despite earning a no decision. Odenbach allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out one in eight innings of mound duty.
UConn puts the finishing touches on the regular season as the Huskies try and win the series with Notre Dame Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The game can be seen live nationally on CSTV.
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