University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Pittsburgh
Huskies Eliminate Pittsburgh with 7-2 Victory
5/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 28, 2010
CLICK HEAR FOR BIG EAST TOURNAMENT CENTRAL INCLUDING UPDATED BRACKET
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Pierre LePage went 4-for-4 with two RBI as the University of Connecticut baseball team eliminated Pittsburgh from the 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship with a 7-2 win on Friday evening at Bright House Field.
George Springer added two hits, while Mike Olt went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Greg Nappo earned the win for his eighth of the year as he became the 14th all-time Husky to earn eight or more wins in a single season.
With the win, UConn (45-13) will now play Rutgers on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. The Scarlet Knights have not lost in the postseason and are coming off two wins in the BIG EAST Championship, with victories over Pittsburgh (Wednesday) and UConn (Thursday). Pittsburgh (38-18) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Cory Brownsten homered over the left field wall for his third home run this season.
Pierre LePage picked up his second hit of the ballgame in the third with a double down the left field line before advancing to third on a fielding error by Pittsburgh John Schultz. The junior was able to cross the plate on a Nick Ahmed sacrifice fly, his third of the postseason, as the Huskies tied the game at one in the top of the third.
The Huskies scored two runs in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead as Billy Ferriter recorded an infield single to short to score Mike Olt from third. Olt earned his way on base with a leadoff double to right field, his 11th of the year. Ferriter later scored on an RBI single by LePage into left center.
Two Pittsburgh errors put Ahmed on second before the sophomore scored on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by George Springer. For Springer, it was his seventh hit of the postseason and his second RBI. With no outs, Springer stole second before advancing to third on another Pittsburgh throwing error. With runners on first and third, Springer attempted to steal home on a ball that got by Brownsten behind the plate but was thrown out trying to add to UConn's run tally. Despite the out, the Huskies added the one run to the scoreboard to extend their lead to three at 4-1.
The Panthers led off the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back hits before Kevin Smith grounded into a double play as Schultz scored to cut the Huskies' lead to two. UConn added two runs in the seventh as Ferriter singled to right field to score both Mike Olt and Mike Nemeth to give the Huskies a 7-2 advantage. Greg Nappo allowed 10 hits, two runs and four walks in 5.2 innings of work in today's ballgame before freshman Dan Feehan took the hill with two outs in the sixth after Nappo walked his fourth batter.
Feehan had another solid outing for the Huskies, allowing three hits in 2.1 scoreless innings. Kevin Vance came in to close out the game in the ninth as he walk one and allowed no hits.
For all 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championship news and information, log onto www.BigEastBaseball.com.
