Hook C Struggles at Dodger Classic
The Huskies headed out west for a three-game series in Los Angeles, but the change of scenery didn’t help them get on track, as they lost their first two games. UConn is off to its worst start since beginning the 2008 season with a 2-7 record. Despite the setbacks, they managed a solid win over 14th-ranked Vanderbilt—a good victory they can hopefully build on heading into the weekend series against Miami in Coral Gables.
Game One: USC (8-5)
UConn starter: Oliver Pudvar (0-0 5.14 ERA)
USC starter: Caden Hunter (1-0 2.00 ERA)
UConn switched up its Friday night pitching, opting for Oliver Pudvar over Gabe Van Emon. The Huskies had been outscored 23-0 in the first two innings on the season coming into this game, and Pudvar did his best to help with that figure, allowing one run over three innings but walking four Trojans. Cayden Suchy came on in relief, and allowed four runs, all earned, in three innings, to earn the loss. Hunter would get the win for USC, throwing six innings, allowing three runs, one earned, striking out six Huskies. Grant Govel pitched three innings in relief to get the save, his first of the season.
The Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind a Connor Lane RBI double, and a Bryan Padilla bases loaded walk. USC’s John Elliott hit a solo HR in the third, followed by a Jack Basseer HR in the fourth to tie the game. Later in the fourth, Ethan Hedges singled to right, driving in two runs, to give the Trojans a 4-2 lead that wouldn’t relinquish. UConn would add a couple runs in the eighth and ninth, but after USC had already extended the lead to 8-3. USC improved their record to 8-1, while UConn fell to 1-6.
Game Two: UCLA (8-6)
UConn starter: Ian Cooke (0-2 16.88 ERA)
UCLA starter: Ian May (1-0 2.00 ERA)
After struggling mightily in his first two outings, Ian Cooke was hoping for a better performance against the Bruins. Unfortunately for Cooke, that would not happen, as he allowed seven earned runs on eight hits through 4.2 innings in a losing effort, falling to 0-3 on the young season. The Friday night starter through the first two weekends, Gabe Van Emon, came on in relief, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits. UCLA starter May pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits, with CJ Bott coming on in relief to earn the win.
UConn opened the scoring again, behind a Tyler Minnick solo HR in the first. UCLA would get a run in each of the second, third, and fourth, but UConn would tie the game at 3 in the fifth, with a Rob Rispoli two-run HR. Cooke would lose that tie in the bottom half, on a two-run single through the right side by Cameron Kim, followed by a Phoenix Call single, with a run scoring on a throwing error by Padilla. The Bruins would add an unearned run in the next AB, taking an 8-3 lead. UConn would add three more runs in the sixth and seventh, on two SAC flies in the sixth, and a Minnick RBI single in the seventh, but could do no more, losing 8-6. UCLA improved to 8-3, while the Huskies fell to 1-7
Game Three: UConn (6-2)
UConn starter: Tommy Ellisen (0-1 3.00 ERA)
Vanderbilt starter: Cody Bowker (1-0 0.00 ERA)
Like the prior two games this weekend, the Huskies struck first, this time on a Grant MacArthur RBI single through the right side, plating Caleb Shpur, the first run allowed this season for Bowker. Padilla couldn’t keep the inning going, eventually striking out, but not before fouling off six consecutive pitches. Also similar to the other two games, the lead was short-lived, as Vandy tied it up in the bottom half of the first, then took the lead in the second behind a RJ Austin RBI double. Ryan Daniels would erase that one run lead with a three-run HR in the top of the fourth, giving UConn a 4-2 lead.
After Bowker was replaced, CA native Sam Biller extended the Husky lead to 5-2 on a solo shot, followed by a run scored on a wild pitch in the sixth. Ellisen completed six innings, a rarity so far for this Husky starting pitching unit, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, striking out five. Brady Afthim came on in the eighth, allowing three hits in two innings, but none scored, and struck out four Commodores to close it out.