Hook C Drops Opening Series on NC Trip

UConn began their spring break in North Carolina in Buies Creek, taking on the Campbell Camels of the Coastal Conference (formerly Colonial). This was the first meeting between the two programs. 

Game One: UConn (6-5)

UConn starter: Oliver Pudvar (1-0 3.60 ERA)

Campbell starter: Jake Murray (1-1 2.61 ERA)

W: Pudvar (2-0)

L: Murray (1-2)

S: Brady Afthim (1)

Attendance: 253

Campbell got the scoring going in the third on a solo HR from 3B Charlie Meglio, but the Huskies put up all six of their runs in the fourth, on a Grant MacArthur two-run double, Aiden Dougherty bunt, then Sam Biller RBI single to right. Another SAC bunt by FR Connor Lane scored the fifth run, and Tyler Minick singled through the right side to score Biller, and the Huskies were looking good at 6-1. Pudvar pitched six full innings, a nice change for the Huskies, and it was in the seventh that Campbell was able to get back on the board, with a two-run double by SS Darnell Parker, then Dalen Thompson drove him in in the very next AB, cutting the lead to 6-4. 

Brady Afthim came on to pitch the eighth and ninth innings, and after allowing no runs in the eighth, he was tagged for an RBI single to 2B Jonah Oster, then was in trouble with two outs with runners on the corners. Afthim was able to close the door, getting Joey Morton to ground out, earning the save, and the Huskies took the first game of this weekend series. Pudvar allowed just one run on three hits in his three innings of work, becoming one of the best starters UConn has at this point in the season. Campbell pitcher Murray allowed all six Husky runs on eight hits, in five innings to take his second loss of the season. 

Game Two: Campbell (7-6 10 innings)

UConn starter: Tommy Ellisen (1-2 4.06 ERA)

Campbell starter: Mason Smith (1-1 2.76 ERA)

W: Bryce Schares (1-0)

L: Brady Afthim (1-1)

Attendance: 582

After hanging on for dear life Friday night, UConn found themselves in another tight game in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. The Huskies started off strong, scoring two runs in the opening frame, on a Dougherty RBI single, followed by an RBI HBP with the bases loaded. Campbell got two in the bottom half of the first, on a SAC fly and a Morton single through the right side, scoring one. UConn would pick up two in the second, then one more in the third, giving them a 5-2 lead. All three of those runs were unearned, in a bit of bad luck for Campbell starter Smith. 

The Camels battled back, with a solo HR to lead off the bottom of the fourth, then scored on a bases loaded HBP of their own, then a bases loaded walk, all with no outs, tying the game at five. Greg Shaw III came on in relief, shutting down Campbell with no runs over four innings, striking out five. A Dougherty SAC bunt put the Huskies ahead one,  but could muster no more in this game. Campbell tied things up on an RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the eighth, then Afthim loaded the bases in extras, allowing the game-winning single to give Campbell a 7-6 win. 

Ellisen went three innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits, walking two, and striking out two. Afthim was tagged with his first loss of the year after earning the save the night prior, allowing the game-winning run on four hits, and two walks in 2.1 innings. For the Camels, Smith went four innings, allowing five runs, just one earned, walking four Huskies and striking out four. Winning pitcher Schares won his second contest of the year, throwing two innings of hitless ball. 

Game Three: Campbell (8-5)

UConn starter: Cayden Suchy (1-3 8.74 ERA)

Campbell starter: David Rossow (1-2 5.54 ERA)

W: Rossow (2-2) 

L: Ian Cooke (0-4)

S: Peyton Brown (1)

Attendance: 582

Game two of the Saturday doubleheader again started with UConn jumping out to an early lead, but pitching ultimately doomed the Huskies. A throwing error on the 3B allowed MacArthur to reach and Rob Rispoli to score to open the scoring, followed by a Sam Biller groundout, giving the Huskies a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Suchy, making his first start, was stout in the first four innings, before the wheels fell off in the sixth. After allowing an unearned run in the fifth, Suchy allowed a two run single, followed by a Morton RBI double, and Thompson RBI single, tying the game at five. Cooke came in to relieve, and didn’t fare much better, allowing an RBI double and SAC fly to give the Camels a 7-5 lead on a six run sixth inning. 

UConn would be unable to muster any more offense, and Campbell added an insurance run in the eighth to give them the victory and series win. Suchy threw 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits. Cooke took the loss, pitching the rest of the way, 2.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits with three walks. Campbell starter Rossow threw six innings, also allowing five runs, four earned, while striking out seven. Brown pitched the final three innings to earn the save, allowing no runs on just two hits. 

Due to inclement weather, this game was moved up to make it a doubleheader, and the Huskies will have an extra rest day before taking on Duke on Tuesday (4:00 ACC+).