HookC Wins BIG EAST Opener

Friday, March 27

Storrs, CT

3:05 PM

University of Connecticut

13-14, 0

Xavier

8-19, 0

Xavier

UCONN

3/27/2026 8:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. - The UConn baseball team (13-14, 1-0 BIG EAST) opened BIG EAST play with a 3-1 victory against Xavier (8-19, 0-1 BIG EAST) on a cold afternoon at Elliot Ballpark.

LHP Charlie West earned the victory for the Huskies by tying a season-best with 6.2 shutout innings of work, scattering three hits and four strikeouts.

West pitched well in the big moments, getting out of jams with multiple runners on in the third and fourth innings and pitched around a double in the sixth.

UConn scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning. Jackson Marshall got the rally going with a one-out double in the left centerfield alley and advanced to third on a Chris Polemeni single through the right side.

Moments later, Marshall scored on a wild pitch to give the Huskies the 1-0 advantage. Polemeni proceeded to steal third, his team-leading 12th stolen base of the year, and scored on the next pitch when Xavier catcher Jonathan Fitz had a pickoff attempt roll down the left field line.

Maddix Dalena added to the UConn lead with a RBI single to right field on an 0-2 pitch. It capped the three-run frame for the Huskies.

Paxton Meyers pitched 1.2 innings of relief after West and gave up one run in the ninth inning. He exited the game with runners at second and third and one out.

Greg Shaw III entered the game a struck out Clay Burdette for the second out of the inning. After a double steal put the tying runs in scoring position, Shaw got Fitz to hit a ground ball back to the mound to secure the victory.

The Huskies and Musketeers will resume the series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.

Game Notes

In his two career starts against Xavier, West is 2-0 with just six hits allowed in 13.0 innings of work. He has allowed just two runs and struck out eight.
The Huskies snapped a two-game losing streak in BIG East Openers with their first win to start conference play since 2023.
Chris Polemeni has reached base in 20-straight games after his multi-hit day on Friday.
The Huskies are 10-0 this season when leading after eight innings.
UConn turned multiple double plays for the sixth time this season on Friday. The Huskies are 5-1 in those ballgames