Baseball America Blacksburg Preview:
http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/blacksburg-regional-preview/
>>Connecticut has a pair of key holdovers from the team that hosted a regional in 2010 and won a regional in 2011: senior second baseman L.J. Mazzilli (.364/.419/.534, 6 HR, 49 RBI, 28 SB) and senior center fielder Billy Ferriter (.285/.363/.357, 25 SB). That duo keys UConn’s high-pressure offense, the top two speed threats for a team that ranks 13th in the nation with 115 steals. Tom Verdi (19 SB) brings more speed out of the leadoff spot and also teams with Mazzilli to form a slick double-play tandem. Athletic freshman cleanup man Vinny Siena (.302/.371/.351) is another above-average runner with good arm strength at the hot corner, but he is fielding just .875. The Huskies rely on their patience to get on base and their speed to help them manufacture runs, but they don’t have a lot of punch in the lineup. They do have sound pitching, led by lefthander Anthony Marzi (5-6, 3.87) and righty Carson Cross (8-4, 2.50). Marzi, who threw a complete-game gem on two days’ rest in the Big East championship game, has good feel for his secondary stuff and does a good job keeping hitters off balance. The 6-foot-5 Cross works downhill and pounds the strike zone. Power sinkerballer Pat Butler (3-1, 2.23, 4 SV) gives the bullpen a senior anchor.< <
