UConn Baseball at the Stetson Invitational

Game 1:

UConn held a 3-0 lead after three innings, but unfortunately Western Michigan came back to beat the Huskies, 4-3.

Second baseman Aaron Hill (2-for-3) had a stolen base and an RBI as did shortstop Anthony Prato (0-for-4) and catcher Zac Susi (0-for-3).

Hill led off Husky half of the first with a triple into the right-center gap and was brought in with a groundout from Prato to give UConn an early 1-0 lead.

The Huskies grabbed another pair of runs in the third. Center fielder Keith Krueger kicked off the inning with a double and Hill plated him with a single. The co-captain scored his second run of the game later in the inning when Susi flew out to right field deep enough to bring him in from third.

Sam Nepiarsky cruised through his first three innings of work, allowing just four baserunners and zero runs. But he did not register an out in the fourth.

The Broncos’ Designated hitter Evan Nelson led it off with a single and left fielder Nate Grys walked before the pair of them advanced 90 feet each on a balk.

Center fielder Tanner Allison knocked Nepiarsky out of the game with a home run, taking advantage of the stiff breeze out to right field to tie the game at 3.

With one out in the fifth, Kyle Mallwitz came in to replace Broncos starter, Jake Piechota. Mallwitz held UConn hitless and allowed just two baserunners on walks.

Western Michigan came through for a run in the eighth to win the game. First baseman Jesse Forestell hit the ball to Prato at shortstop. He couldn’t corral it and left fielder Nate Grys came around from second for the game-deciding run.

UConn (4-4) will play Saturday night at 7 p.m. against Stetson.