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The UConn Huskies picked up a big road series win on Sunday as they down Cincinnati on Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium, 8-5. Even more impressive, they did so without leading hitter Zac Susi and their biggest power threat Isaac Feldstein.
The Huskies were patient in the early going, forcing Cincinnati starter Cam Alldred to give up seven free passes in the form of five walks and two hit batters. First baseman Chris Winkel’s walk brought in a run.
UConn left three runners on in the first inning but added to its lead in the second.
Center fielder Troy Stefanski raised his hitting streak to nine games when he laced a double into the left-center field gap to bring home right fielder Anthony Nucerino and second baseman Michael Woodworth. Stefanski led the team with three hits.
Husky pitcher Jeff Kersten helped alleviate a taxed bullpen as he gave 4 2/3 innings after throwing in Wednesday’s win over UMass Lowell. He gave up a home run in the second inning to make it 3-2 and handed the ball to PJ Poulin with the game-tying run on first in the fifth.
AJ Bumpass welcomed Poulin to the rubber game with a double to left, advancing the runner at third. He would score in the next at-bat on Connor McVey’s infield single, tying the game.
Clayton Colvin entered in the sixth and though he threw a 1-2-3 inning, he showed the signs of the hittable nature he had on Saturday in the seventh. Third baseman Conor Moriarty’s line drive just snuck inside third base and rolled all the way to the wall for a double, bringing home Nucerino and Winkel to give the Huskies a 5-3 lead.
UConn added some insurance in the following frame with a two-RBI single up the middle from designated hitter Christian Fedko, but the Bearcats got it back. Poulin tired and Cincinnati strung three consecutive hits on him. The Huskies went to Jake Wallace, who came in and shut the door on any further scoring. Woodworth drilled a home run to left field in the ninth.
UConn (22-12-1, 7-5) plays on Tuesday against Holy Cross. First pitch at Fitton Field is at 5:05 p.m.