UConn Baseball Tops Boston College 4-0

UConn baseball righted the ship on Tuesday when they went to Boston College and took a 4-0 road win over the Eagles.

Starting pitch Jeff Kersten pitched 8.2 innings, allowing just two hits. He struck out two and walked two.

The Huskies’ offense broke out of its slump, notching 11 hits, including multi-hit performances from designated hitter Zac Susi and third baseman Michael Woodworth.

Kersten is one to allow quick contact and work quickly and his start was the best possible version of that. Through five innings, he allowed two hits on just 41 pitches and both of those runners were eventually doubled off, enabling him to face the minimum.

Just two Boston College batters saw more than four pitches and Kersten recorded five outs on the first pitch. He also had nine outs on the ground.

The problem for the Huskies was that the Eagles’ starter was just as effective. Matt Gill allowed baserunners, with four hits and a walk on his tab, but all that matters is the scoreboard. After his four frames and a one-hit fifth inning from Will Hesslink, UConn and Boston College were deadlocked in a 0-0 tie where no one looked poised to score a run.

That changed in the Huskies’ half of the sixth. Brandon Spagnuolo allowed four consecutive singles to begin the frame to shortstop Anthony Prato, Susi, right fielder Isaac Feldstein and catcher Thad Phillips, respectively.

That resulted in a bases loaded situation with a run in, spelling the end of Spagnuolo’s short outing. Second baseman Christian Fedko had a sacrifice fly to left to make it 2-0, but Zach Stromberg did not allow UConn to have the big inning they desired.

The Huskies added insurance in the ninth. With runners on first and second with no outs, Woodworth’s sacrifice bunt turned into runners on second and third with nobody down after a throwing error from Jack Hodgson on the mound. He walked Toppa to load the bases before a sacrifice fly from Prato gave UConn their fourth and final run of the day.

The victory marked the 500th career win for head coach Jim Penders and improved the Huskies’ record to 12-9.

UConn plays Hartford at J.O. Christian Field in their home opener on Thursday. Huskies’ ace Tim Cate is expected to be on the mound with first pitch set at 3 p.m.