UConn @ University Texas San Antonio - Opening Weekend

[dbmill]

UConn has a rally going in the 8th. One run in, bases loaded, one out, Melley up, with UTSA changing pitchers.

 

[4in16]

Bases loaded for Melley down 6-5 with 1 out in the 8th. Big single by Melley drives in 2 and Yahn thrown out at 3rd followed by 2 out double by JDD, now 2nd and 3rd for Gnesda.

 

[dbmill]

Melley single drives in two runs to take the lead. Yahn thrown out at 3rd, so two out.

 

[dbmill]

Devin Over warming up in bullpen. Chris Jones says Nico Darras not available to pitch today, possibly to the relief of Stairmaster.

 

[dbmill]

Melley scores on a wild pitch/passed ball. Two run lead.

 

[dbmill]

Deroche-Duffin, who had doubled earlier in the inning, scores on another wild pitch.

 

[4in16]

5 run 8th now 9-6 UConn Over coming in.

 

[dbmill]

Penders makes a few lineup changes heading into #UConn's series finale at UTSA:
View attachment 12072

Did UTSA start a lefty? Penders had talked about platooning Stefanski with a righty hitter. Also, Penders had talked about Lefevre starting one game in place of Susi during the early season weekend series. Susi is a lefty hitter, LeFevre a righty, so that would be a natural platoon as well.

 

[4in16]

Polonia makes his debut 1st man reaches on an error by Daniello, who redeems himself by turning 2 on the next batter, walks the next man 4-0, strike out to end it. UConn picks up its first W of 2016 and Polonia grabs the save in his debut.

 

[4in16]

Riley the W in his debut as well. Melley and Lefevre both go 3/4 Melley with 2 runs and 4 rbis including a HR.

 

[scotty0330]

Heck of a win to take last game of the series. Despite losing the first two in walk off fashion leave San Antonio on a high note. Plus offense put together best effort of season, relief pitching from some of the kids was solid....

On to Tennessee....3 different teams in 3 days...

 

[huskymedic]

UConnBaseball 4:49pm via Twitter Web Client
#UConn pounds out 13 hits in a 9-6 victory over UTSA on Sunday in San Antonio
http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/022116aaa.html

http://www.goutsa.com/liveStats/v2/baseball/index.dbml?GAME_STAT_ID=2543569&db_oem_id=13100


Next up, UConn travels to Clarkville, Tenn. when it plays Missouri St. in a neutral game on Friday, Feb. 26.

 

[dbmill]

Even though UConn lost 2 out of 3 games, the debut of the various freshmen pitchers went pretty well this weekend, and that has me feeling good about the prospects of the team as the season moves onward. It's still early, but I'm thinking Penders could have the deepest pitching staff that UConn has had in a number of years. It really could be a huge transfusion of quality pitching talent for the team.

While UConn is obviously better off having Ruotolo available to close games, his suspension pretty much forces Penders to give more game mound time to these young pitchers early in the schedule, something that may end up paying off as we get deeper into the season, especially once Ruotolo is ready to pitch again.