University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Pittsburgh
Huskies Blank Pittsburgh, 7-0 In BIG EAST Opener
3/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 25, 2011
STORRS, Conn. - Junior Matt Barnes (Bethel, Conn.) pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits and George Springer (New Britain, Conn.) posted his third home run of the season to lead the University of Connecticut baseball team over Pittsburgh, 7-0 this afternoon. Today's contest at J.O. Christian Field was the BIG EAST opener for both teams, as UConn improves to 9-9-1 (1-0) this season and Pittsburgh falls to 12-7 (0-1).
After a scoreless first inning, the Huskies got on the board in the bottom of the second when Doug Elliot (Rocky Hill, Conn.) scored on a sacrifice fly by Billy Ferriter (Nashua, N.H.). Elliot got on base with a single through the left side and then advanced to second on a sac bunt by Tom Verdi (Warwick, R.I.) and moved to third on a passed ball.
After three straight Pittsburgh outs in the top of the third, UConn posted three more runs in the bottom of the inning, including a two-run home run to center field by Springer for the 4-0 lead.
The Panthers held the Huskies to just two hits throughout the fourth and fifth innings, but they were unable to capitalize posting just one hit of their own during that span, a David Chester single through the left side.
UConn opened the bottom of the sixth inning with back-to-back doubles, one from Elliot down the left field line and one from Verdi down the right field line which allowed Elliot to score his second run of the game. With two outs, Nick Ahmed (East Longmeadow, Mass.) singled through the left side driving in Verdi for the 6-0 UConn lead heading into the top of the seventh.
The Huskies tallied eight straight outs throughout the final three innings and Springer scored on a Pittsburgh error to give the Huskies the 7-0 victory. Chester was the only Panther to post a hit during the final three innings, as he doubled to right center to lead the Panthers with two hits on the day.
Barnes, who allowed just four hits through nine innings, posted six strikeouts as he earned the win for the Huskies. He is now 4-2 on the season, while Corey Baker (2-1) picked up the loss for Pittsburgh.
Four Huskies posted a pair of hits on the day, including LJ Mazzilli (Greenwich, Conn.), Ahmed, Springer and Elliot.
UConn and Pittsburgh will continue the weekend series tomorrow, when the two teams meet for a 1:00 p.m. contest at J.O. Christian Field.
