WILMINGTON, N.C. – The UConn baseball team (4-5) pulled out a 5-2 victory in its series opener at UNC Wilmington (5-5) on Friday night at a rainy Brooks Field.
The Huskies walked the tight rope in the early innings with UConn starter Charlie West working himself into bases loaded jams in the first and second innings. In the first, West faced bases loaded and one out and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat. In the same scenario in the second, West induced a 6-3 double play ball to extinguish the rally.
UConn took a 1-0 lead in the second after back-to-back hit by pitches by Chris Polemeni and Steve Thomas. Nater Wachter followed with a single to load the bases and Chase Taylor gave the Huskies the lead with a bases loaded walk.
UNCW took the lead on a two-run homer in the bottom of the third but the Huskies responded right away. With Polemeni at second and two outs, Taylor lined an RBI double into the left centerfield alley. It is the first extra base hit season for Taylor.
West finished the day with 4.1 innings pitched, allowed three hits, two runs, walked six and struck out nine. RHP Charlie Hale entered out of the UConn pen and was excellent. Hale kept the game tied 2-2 until the ninth inning.
In the ninth, Nater Wachter put the Huskies ahead with an RBI single into left field to make it 3-2. The Huskies added on with Wachter scoring on a wild pitch later in the frame and later Jackson Marshall walked with the bases loaded to push the lead to three, 5-2.
Hale closed it out with an uneventful ninth inning to secure his first win as a Husky.
The Huskies and Seahawks will resume its three-game series with a 4 p.m. contest on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Game Notes
- Nater Wachter is 4-7 with four RBI in his last two games.
- Jackson Marshall has reached base safely in all nine games this season.
- Chase Taylor registered his first extra base hit as a Husky and posted his first multi-RBI game of the year.
- The Huskies have outscored opponents 10-3 in the ninth inning this season.
- UConn is 4-1 when its scores first this year.
