UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT - UConn Huskies

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UNIVERSITY 2007 SEASON REVIEW OF CONNECTICUT 2 0 0 7 - 0 8 2U 0n 0i v8 e rU sn iitv y e ro sf i tC y o no nf eCc ot inc nu et c Wt i co um t e n B ’ as s eI cb e a lHl o c k e y The University of Connecticut baseball team recorded it's third consecutive season in 2007 with at least 34 wins, highlighted by mutiple stellar pitching performances and the successful play of its senior class. Dennis Donovan, who led the Huskies with 46 runs batted in and 83 hits, including nine homeruns, finished his career at UConn as the all-time leader for games played, at-bats, assists and hits during his career as a Husky. Led by fifth-year head coach Jim Penders, the UConn baseball program is coming off a season which found the Huskies battling their way into the BIG EAST Tournament Championship game as the number eight seed. Despite the 7-6 loss to Rutgers, UConn’s appearance in the title game marked the lowest seed in BIG EAST Tournament history to reach the final game. In addition to a history-making end to the season, four former Huskies signed professional baseball contracts after 2007 play, including Mike Tarsi and Dennis Donovan, Josh Farkes and Larry Day. The Huskies had many obstacles in their way before earning a berth into the conference tournament, as UConn opened the 2007 season 2-8 in the first 10 games played. The Huskies gave up an average of 12.4 hits and 8.1 runs in the first seven games of the season, while they recorded 29 runs, a 4.1 per game average and 60 hits, a 8.6 per game mark. Mike Tarsi UConn's opening series in 2007 was a tough battle at Western Carolina, as the Huskies took just one game in the threegame series before being swept at South Alabama in another three game matchup. Penders earned his 100th career victory with UConn's 8-1 win over Western Carolina to make him the fourth head baseball coach in the history of the program to register at least 100 wins. Tarsi hurled seven innings in the first game of the series for the Huskies and allowed just three runs (two earned) on six hits while collecting four strikeouts for his first second win of the season. UConn then came out and defeated two Connecticut programs in Yale and Fairfield, before hosting South Florida in a conference match-up. South Florida took two of three games in the series, which sent the Huskies to a 3-3 record in the Dennis Donovan BIG EAST. After losing three straight at Rutgers, the Huskies took just one game against Louisville (April 13) and then one from Cincinnati (April 20), putting the program amongst the lower half of teams in the BIG EAST Conference standings with a 5-10 conference record. over Fairfield, as he picked up his sixth consecutive win of the season. Non-conference opponents Siena and Fairfield fell to the Huskies 8-5 and 8-0 before Rhode Island hosted and took down the Huskies 4-0 in Kingston on April 25. McGinn recorded sixth scoreless innings pitched in the shutout The Huskies followed their non-league performances with a 2-1 series loss to Georgetown in BIG EAST Conference action before a four-run ninth inning UConn rally lifted the Huskies over Northeastern 8-7. Karl added to his season total of 17 runs, 37 hits and 19 runs batted in, as he smacked a three-run homerun over the fence to lift the Huskies over Massachusetts 8-5 on May 8. Central Connecticut hosted the Huskies in a battle of two Connecticut institutions on May 9 and were downed 13-4 by UConn to mark the Huskies' 19th victory in 26 games against the Blue Devils since 1987. After the opening series with the Catamounts, Mike Tarsi, who was picked in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins in the Major League Draft, earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after earning the Huskies' first victory of the season on the mound in UConn's 8-1 win. Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) recorded his first homerun of the year with a two-run shot to help the Huskies pick up their first win of the season. The next week saw the Huskies travel to the 2007 Kennel Club Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., where the Huskies picked up a quick 6-4 win over Western Michigan to start Classic play. The Huskies then found themselves losing three straight before picking up their third victory of the season, with a 9-7 tilt over North Florida. After a 2-1 loss to Ohio State, the Huskies won their next seven of eight games, while they defeated both Sacred Heart and Iona before opening BIG EAST Conference play. The Huskies' conference series against Seton Hall was cancelled due to inclement weather and was never rescheduled. Brendan McGinn continued his successful senior campaign as he pitched eight scoreless innings in the 4-0 shutout over non-conference opponent Iona. UConn won its BIG EAST opener on March 23, as the Huskies downed St. John's 4-3 before taking two of three games and winning the opening series against the Red Storm. Donovan was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for his efforts over St. John's as he batted .500 (11-for-22) with three runs scored and seven runs batted in, while he extended his hitting streak to six games. UConn returned to BIG EAST play and defeated West Virginia 5-0 behind Tarsi's shutout and eight strikeouts. Another shutout over the Mountaineers helped the Huskies outlast West Virginia in the three-game series as the Huskies took two of three games. Tarsi was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for his performance against West Virginia as his win helped lead UConn to a 5-1 record for the week. Sophomore Bob Van Woert (Johnson City, N.Y.) led the Huskies past Marist 10-8 as he earned his seventh straight victory and his seventh of the season. Donovan added to his own booming season as he recorded a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth inning to cap a four-run comefrom-behind rally that produced eight runs over the final two innings en route to a 12-10 victory over Vermont. The Huskies then clinched a berth in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament with a 2-1 series win over Notre Dame as the Huskies defeated the Irish 7-6 in a come-from-behind victory in South Bend, Ind. That May 19th match-up was the Huskies' last regular season game and the Huskies last chance to earn a spot into post season play. With his stellar performance during the week, Tarsi was tagged the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week. The Huskies entered the BIG EAST Tournament in Brooklyn, N.Y. as the eighth seed and found themselves up against St. John's, the No. 1 seed, in the first round of tournament play. Despite a valiant effort, the Huskies fell to the Red Storm in a 2-1 close finish. 20 2008 UCONN BASEBALL
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT 2007 SEASON REVIEW 2 0 0 6 - 0 72 0U 0n 8 i v eU rn si vi te y r so if t y C o nf nCe oc nt ni ce uc t iWc uo t m Be an s’ e bI ca e l l H o c k e y the loss, UConn earned a spot in BIG EAST history as the eighth seeded team in the title game. In addition, the 2007 league tournament featured a conference-best four total shutouts throughout the course of the week. UConn picked up two of the four shutouts as the Huskies blanked South Florida in two consecutive games on Friday, May 25. In the loser's bracket of the tournament, the Huskies faced fourth seeded Pittsburgh and defeated the Panthers 5-2 to eliminate them from tournament play on May 23. Bob Van Woert After South Florida upset first seeded St. John's in the second round of play, the Red Storm were eliminated by the Huskies as Matt Untiet's walk-off homerun lifted the team to a thrilling 8-7 victory. Untiet's solo blast kept the Huskies' hope of a championship title in sight as the eighth seeded UConn program moved on into the next round of play. On May 25, the Huskies continued to ride the momentum that they picked up just a day before, as they shutout South Florida 3-0 behind the stellar pitching of Greg Nappo (Madison, Conn.). Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) led the Huskies with a double and two runs batted in while Brad Olt (Branford, Conn.) also contributed with a run batted in. Led by McGinn, once again, the Huskies defeated South Florida 2-0, to mark the second straight shutout against South Florida by UConn in the tournament. McGinn pitched another complete game as the Huskies eliminated yet another team from the tournament in the fifth-seeded Bulls. With the win, Mc- Ginn picked up his Matt Untiet eighth win of the season. Against the Bulls, with the bases empty, first baseman Untiet laced a double into left field to put the Huskies into scoring position. Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa), who drove in the game-winning run in game one against the Bulls, gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead as he smacked a double off the left field wall to drive home Untiet. UConn held a Rutgers offense that entered the championship game averaging 11.4 hits per game during the tournament to just six hits, but also committed three errors in the field. In fact, the Huskies were able to out-hit Rutgers by an 11-6 tally in the nine innings played. The Huskies continued to battle against the Scarlet Knights and nearly completed an improbable comeback as the Huskies rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth inning. A national television audience on ESPN stayed Matt Karl riveted as Untiet singled through the right side to start the inning off before coming around to score on the following play as Mahoney hit a double into left field. After the next Husky was retired on a groundout, Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.) doubled into left-center to drive in Mahoney. Stevens then singled to center on the next play to put runners on the corners, which was followed by a balk, advancing both runners. On the following play, left fielder Pete Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) homered to right field to pull the Huskies within one run. Second baseman Dale Brannon (St. Petersburg, Fla.) next reached base with a bloop single into center field, but Scarlet Knight reliever Kevin Lillis retired the next two batters to preserve the tournament title win for the Rutgers ball club. After a successful run toward the end of the season to get the Huskies into tournament play, the Huskies followed with a four-game win streak to give the program a chance for a Championship title. Despite the loss in the final game, UConn never gave up the battle to the top and ended the season with an overall record of 34-27 after a 2006 season which saw the Huskies record a program-best 39 victories. Tarsi was selected in the 12th round by the Minnesota Twins while Day was selected in the 50th round by the New York Yankees. Donovan agreed to terms with the Kansas City Royals as Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.), the eighth Husky in the last two years to sign a professional contract, signed on with the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am League. In the BIG EAST Tournament Championship game, UConn fell to Rutgers 7-6 on May 26. Despite 2008 UCONN BASEBALL 21
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