#24 UConn @ Cincinnati (Fri. 4/20 @ 6p, Sat. 4/21 @ 4p & Sun. 4/22 @ 1p) @ Marge Schott Stadium

[uconnbaseball]

Awesome, lengthy at bat for Winkel to battle back from an 0-2 count.

 

[HawkHusky]

Lots of pitches so that's good. Too bad Thad's big hit went foul. Very smart at-bats all around.

 

[dbmill]

34 pitches for the Cincinnati pitcher that inning.

 

[SAMCRO]

UConn gets 1 across in the 1st, leaving bases loaded. We really gotta take advantage of those situations. In the plus side, Cinci’s stsrter threw mid 30 pitches in the 1st.

 

[dbmill]

Bottom 1st, double play ball enables Kersten to face the minimum three batters. 1-0 UConn going to the top of the 2nd.

 

[SAMCRO]

Nice 4-3 DP to cancel out the opening walk, and then a K... only 13 pitches needed for Kersten to get out of the 1st.
1-0 UConn going to the 2nd

 

[HawkHusky]

Great start for Kersten!!

 

[uconnbaseball]

Good start! Keep applying pressure on them.

If this game is close in the 6th we have an excellent chance at winning.

 

[UConNick]

Kersten being on his game will be crucial if we want to play far in the postseason. During those tournaments where games come rapid-fire, you often need a fourth starter unless you sweep through, which would be ideal, but isn't always likely. Probably aren't many teams that could send out a fourth starter with the upside of Kersten.

 

[SAMCRO]

UConn Single followed by Sac bunt puts runner on 2nd w/ 1 out and top of order up. Come on boys

 

[dbmill]

Nucerino is proving to be a nice bench player. He has a knack for getting on base. Before the game started his on base percentage was .382.

 

[SAMCRO]

A walk puts runners on 1st and 2nd for UConn with 1 out.

 

[dbmill]

Stefanski double drives in 2 runs. 3-0 UConn.

 

[Baseballguy]

M-V-P

 

[SAMCRO]

Nice Stefanski... 2 run double. 3-0 good guys T2. Still only 1 out. We will get to their bullpen soon.

 

[dbmill]

3-0 UConn after the top of the 2nd. Cincinnati pitcher is at 60 pitches.

 

[dbmill]

If Kersten has one of his efficient games, then UConn is in really good shape for this one. If not...

 

[UConNick]

Good inning. Troy has come so far. A couple years ago he looked absolutely clueless at bat. Granted, tremendous in the field, but nothing else. When it became clear he would be starting in CF this season, I was a tad unsure. But he's settled my every concern and then some. Very happy to have him!

 

[dbmill]

Good inning. Troy has come so far. A couple years ago he looked absolutely clueless at bat. Granted, tremendous in the field, but nothing else. When it became clear he would be starting in CF this season, I was a tad unsure. But he's settled my every concern and then some. Very happy to have him!

I don't think it was a sure thing at the beginning of the season that Stefanski would be the starting center fielder. There was also talk of Winkel playing there. But Stefanski started the season with a hot bat, which is important for a player trying to break into the UConn lineup. One thing with Penders, if your bat is hot, you tend to stay in the lineup.

 

[dbmill]

2 run homer for Cincinnati in the bottom of the 2nd.

 

[HawkHusky]

And just like that...

Ugh.

 

[SAMCRO]

Ouch. 3-2 UConn still in B2 after a 2 run BOMB by UC

 

[HawkHusky]

Not ideal, but still with the lead.

 

[HawkHusky]

Gonna need to keep scoring like yesterday.

 

[dbmill]

Nucerino on base again with a walk. It will be interesting to see how he develops next season.