University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
San Diego
Huskies Blank San Diego 4-0
3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 12, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Matt Barnes earned his second win of the season as the UConn baseball team shutout San Diego 4-0 in its final game of its spring-break trip in Southern California. A sacrifice fly by George Springer scored the eventual game-winning run as the Huskies improve to 7-6 on the year with the victory.
Springer hit his third sacrifice of the season to give UConn a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Nick Ahmed led off the frame with his fifth walk of the year before advancing to third on a single to center field by senior Mike Nemeth. Springer's fly ball to left scored Ahmed as the junior outfielder recorded his team-leading 17th RBI of the season.
San Diego's (4-9) bats had no answer for junior hurler Matt Barnes as the Bethel, Conn. native threw a two hitter in nine solid innings of work. Barnes struck out two batters, allowed one walk and did not allow a run in his second career complete game.
UConn added an insurance run in the top of the eighth as Nemeth recorded his seventh RBI of the season as he reached base on a fielder's choice. John Andreoli scored the run for the Huskies after he led off the frame with an infield single.
In the ninth, the Huskies extended their lead to four as freshman Mike Friel's first hit of the ballgame plated two Huskies with two outs in the frame. Sophomore LJ Mazzilli led off the inning with his team-leading sixth double of the season before scoring on Friel's base hit. Andreoli also scored on the play after he was intentionally walked by Paul Paez.
Barnes allowed one hit in the final inning but retired three batters on a foul out and two groundouts to register his second career shutout.
San Diego's James Pazos walked four and allowed five hits as well as one run in three innings of work. He was the first of seven pitchers for the Toreros as the Huskies did some damage, registering 11 hits on the afternoon, including two extra-base hits. With the loss, Pazos moves to 1-1 on the year.
Nemeth finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Ahmed went 2-for-3 with one run. Andreoli added a 2-for-4 performance with two runs scored.
The Huskies will return to action on the East Coast on Tuesday, March 15 with a 3:30 p.m. contest against Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport, Conn. The non-conference contest will be played at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, home of the Atlantic League's Bridgeport Bluefish.
