Baseball Falls to UConn in Extra Innings Tuesday

The Central Connecticut baseball team lost in 10 innings, 7-3, to Connecticut on Tuesday in the home opener at CCSU Baseball Field. The Blue Devils led throughout much of the game before the Huskies rallied to tie the game and then score four runs in the 10th inning. Freshman Jake Siracusa went 4-for-4 with two runs batted in at the plate for CCSU.

With the loss, Central slips to 3-8 on the season, while UConn improves to 10-7.

The Blue Devils are scheduled to host Fairleigh Dickinson for a three-game NEC series this weekend. Friday's game is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.

Central opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Senior Dean Lockery led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Chris Kanios followed with a single up the middle to bring Lockery home and make it 1-0.

The Huskies would push across a run in the fifth to tie the game. Thad Phillips led off with a single and would move to third on a pair of wild pitches. Christian Fedko would hit a one-out sacrifice fly to bring Phillips home and make it 1-1. 

The Blue Devils would regain the lead with two runs in the sixth inning. Senior Nick Garland and sophomore Buddy Dewaine walked to lead off and each moved up a base after freshman Peyton Stephens would lay down a sacrifice bunt. With the infield drawn in, Siracusa punched a single through the right side to score to runs and make it 3-1.

UConn got a run back in the top of the seventh. Phillips was hit by a pitch to lead off and moved to third ona  single by Chris Winkel. A fielder's choice ground out by Fedko would score Phillips to make it 3-2.

The Huskies would tie the game in the eighth after Anthony Prato singled to lead off and then stole second base. He would move to third on a ground out and then scored on a sac fly by John Toppa to make it 3-3.

In the 10th, Prato would reach on an error with one out and then move to third on a double by Troy Stefanski. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Isaac Feldstein brought home the go-ahead run on a sac fly to make it 4-3. Phillips would follow with a three-run home run to push the Huskies' cushion to four runs.

In the CCSU 10th, senior Mitch Guilmette would draw a walk and Dewaine would single with two outs to put runners on first and second, but PJ Poulin would get a strikeout to end the threat and the game.

Siracusa would account for four of Central's eight hits on the day. Lockery, Kanios, Garland and Dewaine each had one hit.

Stephens started on the hill for CCSU and went 2.0 innings in his first start. He allowed only one hit, while striking out a pair. 

Phillips finished the day with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored for the Huskies who had seven hits on the day.

Jeff Kersten started for UConn and went 5.0 innings. He struck out six and allowed one run. Poulin got the win in relief, throwing 2.0 shutout innings and striking out three.