West Coast Trip Thread - UC Davis 3/10 @5P ET, 3/11 & 3/12 @4P ET & Santa Clara 3/14 @9p ET

[Baseballguy]

Running ourselves out of innings again.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[ATLDYKA]

Their 3rd baseman has robbed us of three extra base hits.

 

[dbmill]

CJ Dandeneau comes in to pitch the bottom of the 8th.

 

[huskymedic]

Their 3rd baseman has robbed us of three extra base hits.

... and sold the tag on Prato

 

[huskymedic]

Top of 9 all square:

 

[dbmill]

Top of the 9th, Toppa gets an infield hit for his first hit of the year.

 

[huskymedic]

These freshman are lit...

 

[ATLDYKA]

The kids Prato and Moriority coming up huge.

 

[dbmill]

The move to the outfield seems to agree with Moriarty. He doubles to drive in Toppa to give UConn a one run lead in the 9th. Moriarty has three hits on the day. A Prato double drives in Moriarty to make it 6-4.

 

[ATLDYKA]

And Prato comes through again.

 

[dbmill]

A Willy Yahn hit drives in Prato. 7-4. Good to have another bat like Willy Yahn in the lineup again.

 

[dbmill]

John Russell to pitch the top of the 9th.

 

[Baseballguy]

John Russell to pitch the top of the 9th.

UCONN's new closer presumably.

 

[ATLDYKA]

UCONN's new closer presumably.

Not if he doesn't start throwing strikes.

 

[huskymedic]

Phew...

 

[dbmill]

UCONN's new closer presumably.

Not if he doesn't start throwing strikes.

I would say it is his job to lose at this point. As far as his wildness goes, he has nothing on how Polonia was last year.

Russell gives up a couple of walks, but otherwise retires the side to get the save for himself and the win for UConn.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[dbmill]

Another solid ballgame for the UConn bullpen.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[uconnbaseball]

Huge win without Cate. Win tomorrow, which we should, and this is a successful series.

 

[dbmill]

Huge win without Cate. Win tomorrow, which we should, and this is a successful series.

Wills Montgomerie gets the start tomorrow. Who knows how many strikeouts he will rack up, but hopefully he can get through the 1st inning in something less than 30 pitches. And that is the only thing close to resembling criticism that I have for Wills.

 

[huskymedic]

+1000

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[dbmill]

With Willy Yahn back in the lineup, I wonder if Penders is going with a left field platoon of Moriarty and Winkel for the time being, or at least until John Toppa is able to play the outfield again. From what I've seen, Penders has never shown much interest in platooning in recent years, but he might want to continue to get at bats for both of these talented freshmen. UC Davis started a lefty pitcher yesterday, they are starting another lefty today, and a right hander is scheduled for the start tomorrow. We'll see if the right hand hitting Moriarty starts today and the left hand hitting Winkel tomorrow.

Whatever the case, Penders has been very consistent at using Troy Stefanski as a late inning defensive replacement in left field, and Winkel as a late inning defensive replacement at 1B, when UConn has the lead late in games.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[uconnbaseball]

Feeling confident today. Hopefully the frosh continue to mash.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[dbmill]

1st inning problems continue for Montgomerie, as he hits the first batter, wild pitch advances the runner to 2B, a strikeout, and then a single scores the run. A two run homer makes it 3-0 for UC Davis.