Hook C Weekend Recap: Miami Series
Meeting for the first time since 1970, UConn headed down to Coral Gables on the heels of a disappointing weekend out west, but one that ended on a promising note, defeating ranked Vanderbilt. UConn earned a series victory, undoubtedly feeling pretty good after struggling to start the year. Miami, who was picked 11th in the 16 team ACC, was coming off a series loss to Florida. Despite being in the Big East from 1991 through 2004, the two didn’t meet in that timeframe, as Miami remained independent in baseball during those years. The Hurricanes have struggled in recent years, but the Huskies looked as if they’re starting to come around. The announcers for ACC Network noted several times the series felt like an ACC conference series, and at one point opined that the conference should add the Huskies.
UConn opens their home slate on Tuesday against LIU (3:05pm UConn+), before heading to North Carolina for spring break.
Game One: UConn (7-2)
UConn starter: Oliver Pudvar (0-0 4.50 ERA)
Miami starter: Nick Robert (2-1 3.40 ERA)
Pudvar got the start again for the Huskies, after starting his first game of the season last weekend against USC. He got into a jam in the first, allowing two baserunners with two outs, but was able to manage to escape without any damage. The Huskies would strike first in the third, behind a Tyler Minnick RBI single, scoring Rob Rispoli, who got into scoring position on a hit-and-run. The second run came in the next at-bat, a Ryan Daniels double, scoring Minick, all with two outs. Miami P Robert then walked the next two Huskies, when Sam Biller came to the plate with three ducks in the pond. Biller took an 0-2 count to right, giving UConn a 6-0 lead.
After chasing Robert from the ballgame in the fourth, UConn had another opportunity for a grand slam, but Grant MacArthur popped up to right, leaving the bases loaded. Miami would get going in the bottom half of the fourth, getting their first run off Pudvar, an RBI single with two outs, and with runners on first and second, Pudvar got Todd Hudson swinging, ending the threat. UConn would again load the bases in sixth, and again, MacArthur came up, and like the fourth, MacArthur was unable to drive in any runs, keeping the score 6-1. With two outs in the seventh, Aiden Dougherty was hit by a pitch, then made his way around the bases on a stolen base, then advancing on a wild pitch, driven in by freshman C Connor Lane, extending the lead to 7-1.
Pudvar was relieved by Gabe Van Emon in the sixth, after allowing one earned run on five hits, striking out five Hurricanes. He would earn his first win as a Husky. Robert suffered his second loss of the season, allowing six earned runs in 3.2 innings. JT Caruso, a transfer from Miami, got into the game and pitched one inning, walking two, striking out against his former club.
Game Two: UConn (12-8)
UConn starter: Ian Cooke (0-3 13.50 ERA)
Miami starter: Griffin Hugus (2-1 2.12 ERA)
UConn struck first right away in the opening frame, with a two run Daniels double before Miami recorded an out, and he would later score on an errant throw while attempting to steal third. The Hurricanes would get one back in the bottom half, a Daniel Cuvet RBI single through the right side, but Cooke would minimize the damage, escaping with being tagged for just the one run. Cuvet would strike again in the bottom of the third, blasting a three-run HR to center, seemingly over the batter’s eye, giving Miami their first lead of the series at 4-3.
Miami’s Derek Williams tacked onto the lead with a solo HR, and Cayden Suchy came on to relieve Cooke. Williams would help allow UConn to tie the game in the fifth, as he misplayed Daniels’ single to right, which scored Minick, then MacArthur doubled to left center. Padilla would keep the inning going on an RBI single scoring MacArthur, and UConn retook the lead, and chased Hugus from the game. UConn would add another in the sixth, on a Rispoli ground out that scored Aiden Dougherty.
UConn loaded the bases in the eighth, and added to their lead on a Minick RBI infield single, Daniels walk, a MacArthur two-run single, and a run scored on a fielder’s choice as MacArthur was caught in a run down, giving the Huskies a 12-5 lead. The Hurricanes wouldn’t go away, however, as they put up two runs quickly in the bottom half of the frame on a Max Galvin two-run HR, but that would all the home team would muster. In the bottom of the ninth, Miami cut into the lead with an RBI single from Dorian Gonzalez, but that would be all, as Afthim closed the door again.
Cooke pitched 3.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits, with two HRs. For Miami, Hugus allowed six runs, five of them earned, while walking three and striking out three. Suchy performed admirably in relief, going 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on the Galvin HR, and struck out two, earning the victory.
Game Three: Miami (15-11)
UConn starter: Tommy Ellisen (1-1 1.50 ERA)
Miami starter: Brian Walters 2-0 0.82 ERA)
Ellisen had been the most consistent starter for the Huskies thus far, but he struggled in this one. UConn got off to another lead in the first, on a MacArthur two-run HR. After setting down the Hurricanes in order in the bottom half, Ellisen got in trouble early in the second, allowing a solo HR to Galvin, followed by an RBI single to left. Ellisen didn’t get help from his fielders, as a fly ball to left was dropped, allowing a run to score. Ellisen was relieved, but with the bases loaded, Charlie West walked back-to-back batters, and Miami had a 5-2 lead.
Miami kept it going in the third, adding three more runs on an RBI groundout, followed by a Cuvet RBI single through the left side scoring two. The Huskies went through four pitchers in the first three innings. Minick would get two back with a two-run HR in the top of the fifth, but it seemed every time UConn tried to claw back, Miami had an answer. They’d get three more in the bottom frame, then Minick drove in two with a double in the sixth, Miami’s leadoff man, Jake Ogden hit a two-run HR. UConn would put up four in the top of the eighth, aided by a two-run HR by MacArthur, his second of the game, but of course Miami would add two more, and that’s how this one would end.
Ellisen went just 1.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, and walking one. The Huskies used seven pitchers, all struggling with the excpetion of Jude Abbadessa, who took care of the final two Hurricanes in order. For Miami, Walters pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five runs, all earned, and striking out four Huskies. Will Smith, the Coastal Carolina transfer, not the star of “Wild Wild West,” earned the victory, pitching two innings, while allowing three earned runs.