Florida Series

[ATLDYKA]

Tough 1-0 loss in 12 innings. Offense has really been tough to come by this year. Doesn't help that when we do get base runners we make seemingly endless base running mistakes. Wasn't listening to the game and not sure exactly what happened but McDowell with 2 outs in the top of the 10th on third with one of our best hitters Sundberg up get's caught trying to steal home. I'm guessing the ball got away from the catcher but geez you can't go in that situation unless your certain your going to make it. Just not getting the clutch hits.

 

[dbmill]

Tough 1-0 loss in 12 innings. Offense has really been tough to come by this year. Doesn't help that when we do get base runners we make seemingly endless base running mistakes. Wasn't listening to the game and not sure exactly what happened but McDowell with 2 outs in the top of the 10th on third with one of our best hitters Sundberg up get's caught trying to steal home. I'm guessing the ball got away from the catcher but geez you can't go in that situation unless your certain your going to make it. Just not getting the clutch hits.

Here's what happened on that play, which UConn tried a number of times last year. Sundberg up, has a bad swing on the first pitch against a lefty pitcher. Coach Penders did not like the hitting matchup there, according to the post game interview. Then Penders puts on a play, Hill breaking to second before the next pitch is thrown hoping to get in a run down. At the same time McDowell breaks for home. The hope is that the pitcher freezes or panics, and the runner from third scores the run. In this particular case, the pitcher recovers, throws a bit wide to the first base side of home, but the catcher is able to put the tag on McDowell coming into home. It was a close, bang bang play that was called an out.

This fake steal of second, steal home has never been a favorite play of mine. By the way, this particular play is a favorite of the Connecticut Tigers (I have season tickets to them) the last couple of years. The amazing thing is that it worked for them on several occasions last season.

 

[huskymedic]

UConnBaseball11:02pm via Facebook
Recap from #UConn's 1-0 loss in extras at Florida: fb.me/2cLm4HCZC

Stats

Game Notes
- Jordan Tabkman turned in his best start of the season, not allowing a run for the first time in four starts.
- Vinny Siena’s eighth inning single extended his hitting streak to 15 games, dating back to last season. He has hit safely in all 10 games this year and has reached base in 21 consecutive contests.
- UConn has now played extra innings in four of its 10 games this season. Tonight was the first such game to go past 10 innings.
- Blake Davey was hit by a pitch three times in the contest.

 

[Kgun7]

Tough 1-0 loss in 12 innings. Offense has really been tough to come by this year. Doesn't help that when we do get base runners we make seemingly endless base running mistakes. Wasn't listening to the game and not sure exactly what happened but McDowell with 2 outs in the top of the 10th on third with one of our best hitters Sundberg up get's caught trying to steal home. I'm guessing the ball got away from the catcher but geez you can't go in that situation unless your certain your going to make it. Just not getting the clutch hits.

You agree the offense has been struggling, there are 2 outs, and you have a chance to score a run without the benefit of a hit ... and you propose to only try to score if you are certain you're going to make it?

 

[dbmill]

Tough 1-0 loss in 12 innings. Offense has really been tough to come by this year. Doesn't help that when we do get base runners we make seemingly endless base running mistakes. Wasn't listening to the game and not sure exactly what happened but McDowell with 2 outs in the top of the 10th on third with one of our best hitters Sundberg up get's caught trying to steal home. I'm guessing the ball got away from the catcher but geez you can't go in that situation unless your certain your going to make it. Just not getting the clutch hits.

Never mind clutch hits, UConn hasn't been hitting at all. They only had six hits the entire game. On the plus side, Tabakman had an excellent outing, and the freshman Ruotolo did a great job out of the pen.

 

[huskymedic]

UConnBaseball6:20pm via TweetDeck
Final score: Florida 2, #UConn 1. A walk-off HBP gives this one to the Gators in 10 innings. Huskies look to avoid a sweep tomorrow at 1.

Marzi pitched well. Final line for him : 7.1 IP, ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K

edit add: http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/030814aaa.html

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Never mind clutch hits, UConn hasn't been hitting at all. They only had six hits the entire game. On the plus side, Tabakman had an excellent outing, and the freshman Ruotolo did a great job out of the pen.

What is it with UConn's men's teams . . .defense but never any offense. Like watching football during '12 season and first 9 game this past year. Discouraging for a really good pitching staff. Lack of offense cost the Huskies when they had Oklahoma on ropes last June. Same with the second Virginia Tech game.

 

[huskymedic]

Live stats: uconnhuskies.com/gametracker/la… Audio:WHUS.org, 91.7 FM

Game 3 lineup:

Sundberg - CF
Yavarone - LF
Siena - 2B
Davey - RF
Melley - 1B
McDowell - C
Daniello - 3B
Sullivan - DH
Hill - SS
Ward - P

 

[ATLDYKA]

Really have to feel for the starting pitching staff. They have been so good with no offensive support. Batters had 16 strike out yesterday, just can't have that. Daniello 4 k's alone and a couple of others had 3. They had opportunities with bases loaded one inning and then another where they had first and second and no outs and Darras couldn't get down the sac bunt. It's the little things they aren't getting done in absence of the hitting that could still win games. Also, Mahoney really appears to be struggling this year with his control when he comes into games, not sure what's up there? Unfortunately, you feel like once our young hitters mature and really start to hit the ball will be when the experienced pitching staff graduates and moves on then we will have the opposite problem. Good thing is it appears the young arms are good and we also have Cross coming back next year. Guess we'll just have to deal with the frustrations of lack of offense this year. Just hate to see them losing games on bad execution and costly mistakes.

 

[dbmill]

In today's game, UConn offense is showing signs of waking up. The Sunday game is a total change of pace from the first two with Florida, a back and fourth affair with the Huskies now up 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Brian Ward only lasted 3.1 innings before coming out. The freshmen Zapata and Kay have been on in relief.

 

[dbmill]

Anthony Kay gives up game tying home run in bottom of the 9th. Third game of the weekend to go to extra innings.

 

[ATLDYKA]

5-4 lead in the bottom of the 9th with 1 out and Kay gives up a homer to tie it up. Another tough break. Hopefully they can take it to extras and pull it out. What concerns me is twice they had a chance to add insurance runs. In the 7th they had 1st and third with 1 out and they chose to try and bunt with Hill and he popped it up and they doubled off Sullivan at first. Not sure why they would try to bunt there with a speedy runner and not sure how you get doubled off first. Then in the 9th Sullivan leads off with a double and this time Hill strikes out and can't get the sac down and runner to third with 1 out. The little mistakes continue to haunt this team.

 

[huskymedic]

Gonna have to increase BP meds w/ this young of a team...

 

[ATLDYKA]

Unbelievable, bases loaded and one out in top of the 10th and Daniello strikes out. Then we get the fly ball for the third out. It just never ends.

 

[dbmill]

Ruotolo in for Kay in the bottom of the 10th, the third freshman reliever of the day. Penders has been using these guys a lot.

 

[ATLDYKA]

Lead off triple, gets next guy out, but Florida is able to get down a squeeze and win the game. Difference between the two teams is one makes the small play and the other doesn't.

 

[dbmill]

Another extra inning loss.

 

[dbmill]

Lead off triple, gets next guy out, but Florida is able to get down a squeeze and win the game. Difference between the two teams is one makes the small play and the other doesn't.

Let's not forget the Florida home run in the bottom of the ninth to put it in extras or the triple in the 10th, both big plays indeed. It helps to highlight another UConn offensive problem, very little extra base power from the bats.

 

[huskymedic]

<exhale> Lost weekend <sigh>

http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/030914aaa.html

Game Notes

- Eric Yavarone recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season. The junior also stole his first base of the season after swiping eight bags in 2013.
- Vinny Siena’s 10th inning single extended his hitting streak to 17 games, dating back to last season. He has hit safely in all 12 games this year and has reached base in 23 straight contests.
- UConn and Florida went to extra innings for the third straight game. The Huskies have played extra innings in six of their 12 games this season, and are 2-4 in such contests.
- UConn plated five runs in the third game of the series after mustering one in 21 innings in the first two games at Florida.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Lead off triple, gets next guy out, but Florida is able to get down a squeeze and win the game. Difference between the two teams is one makes the small play and the other doesn't.

Sounds like deja of both of the Oregon games at Dodd Stadium 2011. Got to start winning a couple of those games.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Very disappointing. UConn gets to schedule a program like Florida once every 40 years or so. And, this was a three game series, not a one and done tournament format. Add to this, that Florida is very young, not as strong as they typically are and . . . . UConn can't win one game. Can't figure out how to score a stinking run in two low scoring, winnable games. Can't figure out how to defend in two low scoring, winnable games. They finally score in game 3 but now can't pitch well enough to capitalize. ZERO and four against SEC teams this season, 1-1 against Big Ten, . . . and we wonder why UConn is not getting picked up by one of the Power 5 conferences. I know its not on the baseball program, but much like UConn's bowl loss to Wake, much like the 12-10 loss to UNC, much like the NC State 10-7 loss or the Michigan and Maryland football loses . . . . the Huskies have got to start winning a few of these games, otherwise its no different than University of New Hampshire or University of Mass taking on a Big Ten team and knowing they can't compete and just hoping to jump out to an early lead and they only losing by only a small margin (the prototypical New England college sports mentality save for UConn basketball).