We made the trip down to Storrs today to take in the first game of the UConn-Rutgers series. Rutgers entered the series with a 21-13 overall record while being 10-2 in Big East conference play. UConn entered the game with a 30-7 overall record while also being 10-2 in Big East play. Junior LHP Elliot Glynn (3-2, 2.45 ERA) got the ball for the Huskies while Rutgers sent freshman Jerry Elsing (2-0, 5.65 ERA).
After a scoreless top of the first, UConn would pick up a two out single by Michael Olt passed the second baseman to score Nick Ahmed from third base and give the Huskies the early 1-0 lead. Rutgers would respond right away in the top of the second inning with one out and runners on the corners, Brandon Boykin would lay down a perfect safety squeeze to tie the game at 1.
The game would remain tied at 1 until the bottom of the third when UConn would get back to back one out walks to Nick Ahmed and George Springer. They both would come home on a Mike Nemeth double down the right field line to give the Huskies a 3-1 lead and would take third on an error by the first baseman on the throw in from the outfield. After a Michael Olt strikeout, Kevin Vance followed with a walk to put runners back on the corners with two outs. Elsing would throw two pitches to Joe Pavone before Rutgers head coach Fred Hill would come out to the mound. It was his second trip of the inning, thus making him take out his starter after only 2.2 innings. Hill was visibly upset in the dugout kicking it as he sent a cold Willie Beard to the mound. Beard would toss his eight warmup pitches before Hill would come out to the mound with the trainer as Beard claimed he got injured. He was lifted in favor of Rob Smorol who was able to get out of the inning without anymore damage.
Rutgers would bounce back by bringing Russ Hopkins around after a two base error by Michael Olt to cut the lead to 3-2 in favor of UConn. UConn would respond in the bottom of the inning when Pierre LePage reached base on an error by the third baseman with one out. After a Nick Ahmed flyout, LePage would move to second on a stolen base. He would score on a Mike Nemeth single through the right side to put UConn up 4-2.
The game would remain 4-2 until the bottom of the seventh inning when UConn would bring across three runs. The Huskies would start the inning off with a John Andreoli through the right side. Pierre LePage would follow with a bunt single to first base and Nick Ahmed would bunt down the third baseline to load up the bases as a play couldn’t be made. George Springer would follow with a ringing single passed the shortstop to give UConn the 6-2 lead. Nick Ahmed would score from third on a Mike Nemeth sacrifice fly to left to expand the UConn lead to 7-2.
UConn would lift Elliot Glynn to start the eighth inning when they would bring in Scott Oberg who would pitch a scoreless 8th inning and then they brought in Dan Feehan who pitched a perfect ninth inning to give the Huskies the 7-2 victory. The win was the Huskies 19th straight and 31st of the season which is the sixth most wins in school history.
Elliot Glynn picks up the win to up his record to 4-2 while Rutgers starter Jerry Elsing picks up the loss to put his record at 2-1.
