HookC Lets Series Opener Slip Away

Friday, April 10

Indianapolis, IN

2:00 PM

University of Connecticut

18-17, 4-3

Butler

13-20, 4-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UConn	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	4	5	1
Butler	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	5	9	2

4/10/2026 6:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - The UConn baseball team (18-17, 4-3 BIG EAST) allowed five runs in the final two innings to drop its series opener at Butler (13-20, 4-0 BIG EAST), 5-4, on Friday afternoon at Bulldog Park.

The Huskies built up a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning with a brilliant performance from LHP Charlie West. West pitched 6.2 shutout innings, allowed just three hits and struck out a career-high 14 batters.

The UConn offense got him a lead in the fourth after a lead off double for Chris Polemeni. Polemeni advanced to third on a ground out and scored on an RBI single for Jackson Marshall. One batter later, Gabriel Tirado smoked a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 2-0.

The Huskies extended the lead in the seventh on a lead off triple from Maddix Dalena. Dalena promptly scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0. Polemeni added to the lead with a ground ball to third that was bobbled and allowed Rob Rispoli to come across for the fourth UConn run.

Butler drew closer in the eighth inning with an RBI single from Connor Sackett that a Polemeni error in right allowed a second run to score to make it 4-2.

Entering the bottom of the ninth, the Bulldogs grabbed a lead off single to bring the tying run to the plate. Paxton Myers came out of the bullpen and notched a strikeout. But a two-run home run to right field by Danny Gavin tied the game. After a pair of walks and another strikeout, David Ayers blooped an RBI single to right to end the game.

Next up, the Huskies look to even up the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. with LHP Cayden Suchy on the mound.

Game Notes

The UConn pitching staff struck out a season-high 17 batters on Friday.
Chris Polemeni extended his reach base streak to 28 games.
UConn lost its first game of the season when leading after eight innings (14-1).
Charlie West's 14 strikeouts is the most for a UConn pitcher since Ian Cooke struck out 14 in the series opener against St. John's on April 12, 2024. It is the first time a UConn starting pitcher has reached 14 strikeouts since Ben Casparius had 15 strikeouts vs. Georgetown in 2021.