Melley's Big Game Gives UConn Baseball 5-0 Win Over UMass

The UConn Huskies needed a win on Tuesday in a big way as they had fallen in their previous four games. Bobby Melley—back on the field after missing Sunday's series finale with ECU—made sure it wouldn't be five.

The slugging first baseman went 4-for-4 with a home run to help the Huskies grab a 5-0 win over the UMass Minutemen at J.O. Christian Field in Storrs, CT on Tuesday afternoon. The win pushes UConn to 25-22 and avenges a 9-5 loss to UMass (14-23) earlier this season.

Andrew Zapata (3-1) got the start and win for the Huskies, allowing just one hit over five innings of work. He struck out four and walked three. It was his first start since March 23 when he was roughed up by Central Connecticut.

Joe Rivera, Doug Domnarski, and Devin Over pitched the final four innings in relief and combined to strike out four while allowing five hits.

Melley singled to lead off what was a three-run fourth inning with Joe DeRoche-Duffin working a walk off of UMass starter Mike Geannelis. Melley stole third on a heads-up play when he saw the third baseman in too far on a Bryan Daniello bunt attempt. Daniello would then single on a 1-2 pitch to score Melley.

John Toppa brought in the second run with a fielder's choice RBI that scored DeRoche-Duffin. After a Zac Susi groundout, Tyler Gnesda singled to score Toppa and make it 3-0 Huskies.

Melley's seventh home run of the season in the fifth inning would make it 4-0. UConn got its final run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Zac Susi that scored Toppa from second base in the sixth inning after a great catch by UMass centerfielder Dylan Morris.

The Huskies are back in action on Wednesday afternoon when they head to Brookline, Mass. for a matchup with the Northeastern Huskies at 2 p.m. Jack Riley (2-0) will make his third start and ninth overall appearance for Jim Penders' ball club.