UConn Baseball Drops Game 3

UConn Baseball takes an unfortunate sweep on the road as Tulane triumphs in the third game of their weekend series.

John Russell gave up back-to-back home runs in the ninth to send it to extra innings and Tulane scored in the 12th to get the win 6-5 on Saturday at Turchin Field. It was the Huskies’ fourth straight loss.

Third baseman Willy Yahn had a team-leading three hits. Catcher Zac Susi, right fielder Isaac Feldstein and left fielder John Toppa each had an RBI.

UConn starter Mason Feole had trouble with control, walking four batters in 5 2/3 innings, but he put the Huskies in a position to win regardless, allowing just two earned runs on five hits. He also struck out eight, tying a career high.

UConn got off to a hot start, striking for three runs in the top of the first.

Center fielder Troy Stefanski and Yahn played hit-and-run, putting runners on the corners for Susi. Tulane starter JP France got the one-out ground ball, but Jake Willsey’s throw went into left field, allowing Stefanski to score.

Yahn came home on a groundout by Feldstein and Susi crossed the plate on Toppa’s double.

Feole pitched well throughout the early portions of the game but was hardly dominant. He set down the first five he faced, but Tulane had runners in scoring position in the second and fourth before breaking through for a pair in the fifth.

Willsey broke the shutout with an RBI double and came around to score when Lex Kaplan beat out the back half of a double play ball to cut the UConn lead to 3-2.

In the seventh, the Huskies executed some trickery to perfection. Shortstop Anthony Prato was on third and Yahn was on second. He faked towards third and fell down, forcing Tulane to have to run over and tag him for the final out of the inning. However, Paul Gozzo’s throw to second went into center field and both valuable insurance runs scored for a 5-2 UConn advantage.

However, Tulane got a run in the seventh off of a lead-off walk and then back-to-back home runs in the ninth by Kaplan and Hunter Williams put the game into extra innings.

Tulane ended it in the 12th when Jarret DeHart led off with a walk. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score when Grant Brown singled into left-center field. Stefnaski’s throw short-hopped Susi and DeHart was safe.

UConn (19-14, 6-3) is in action next against Quinnipiac at home on Monday. First pitch is at 3 p.m.