HookC Prevails In Extras in Series Opener

Thursday, February 19

Tucson, AZ

8:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM MT

University of Connecticut

1-4

Arizona

0-5

UConn

Arizona

2/20/2026 2:06:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. - The UConn baseball team (1-4) scored three runs in the 12th inning to claim the series opener at the University of Arizona (0-5) on Thursday night at Hi Corbett Field.

Tied 3-3 in the top of the 12th inning, the Huskies had nobody on and two outs. Tri-captain Rob Rispoli singled up the middle to start the UConn rally. Sophomore Evan Menzel followed with a single to right to place runners at the corners. Jackson Marshall put the Huskies back in front with a RBI single back up the middle to make it 4-3 Huskies.

Tri-captain Maddix Dalena provided key insurance with a two-run single to center to push the lead to 6-3. Greg Shaw III earned the victory out of the pen with 5.0 innings of work. Shaw entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with the game tied at 3. The right hander stranded the potential go-ahead run at second and proceeded to post zero after zero until the Huskies took the lead in the 12th.

After giving up an RBI double in the bottom of the 12th, Sean Finn entered the ballgame and recorded his first career save. The Warrington, Pa. native froze Beau Sylvester with a slider to lock down the first win of the year for the Huskies.

UConn starting pitcher Charlie Hale was superb in his first career start. Keeping the Wildcats hitters off balance all night. The Brookline, N.H. native logged 5.2 innings with four hits allowed, one run and struck out seven.

The Huskies gave Hale early support with the help of the Arizona outfield. Maddix Dalena led off the second with a double after the Wildcats left fielder lost the ball. Later in the frame, a collision in right centerfield off the bat of Nater Wachter resulted in an RBI triple.

Marshall added to the lead with a two-out RBI double in the sixth and Dalena followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 3-0.

The series resumes on Friday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT with Charlie West on the mound for the Huskies.

Game Notes

The 12 inning contest is the longest game for the Huskies since playing 12 innings in Game Two of the NCAA Tallahassee Super Regional.
Greg Shaw III pitched 5.0 innings out of the UConn bullpen. It ties for the second longest outing of his UConn career (St. John's, 5.2 IP, April 25, 2025)
Maddix Dalena notched his first three-hit game of the season and his three RBI is the most in a game for a Husky this season.
Jackson Marshall registered his third-straight multi-hit game
Steve Thomas registered his first career hit as a Husky.