HookC Lets Rubber Game Slip Away

Sunday, March 15

Portland, OR

3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT

University of Connecticut

8-11

Portland

10-7

UCONN

Portland

3/15/2026 9:31:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. - The UConn baseball team (8-11) took a step back this weekend with a series loss to Portland (11-8) after dropping the deciding game, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field.

Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, redshirt freshman Drew Smith pitched out of a first and second two out jam with a great catch in foul ground by right fielder Cam Righi and a ground out to second base.

With momentum, Tyler Minick lined a double to right center, his third hit of the day, to lead off the frame. After a strikeout to Jackson Marshall, Chris Polemeni walked to place runners at first and second. Evan Menzel followed with a fly out to right to move MInick to third with two outs.

With the Huskies 1-9 with runners in scoring position on the day, the Huskies tried to sneak it in the run from third but the play was sniffed out and Minick was tagged out in a rundown between third and home.

Portland responded with a single to right and a controversial hit by pitch to place runners at first and second. After a sacrifice bunt, a ground ball to second baseman Evan Menzel took his momentum towards the outfield and his off balance throw to the plate was late. The Pilots scratched across another run on a ground out to short to take a 5-3 lead. The Huskies went down quietly in the ninth to drop four of thier last five games since reaching the .500 mark (7-7).

Jackson Marshall gave UConn an early lead with a first inning home run to center field, his team-leading sixth of the season.

After Portland took a 3-2 in the fifth, Evan Menzel and the Huskies responded with an RBI single to tie the game in the sixth, 3-3.

Oliver Pudvar pitched a season-high 6.1 innings of three-run ball with five strikeouts.

Marshall and Polemeni each recorded multi-hit efforts along with Minick.

Next up, the Huskies continue their spring break trip with a midweek contest at the University of California in Berkeley, Calif. on Tuesday, March 17 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.