CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College baseball team used
a three-run home run from Cam McRae (Darlington, S.C.) as part of a four-run
seventh inning to knock off the Connecticut Huskies in a series rubber match on
Sunday, 5-4.
PC improves to 13-8 and will host Wofford on Wednesday at 3
p.m. UConn moves to 10-6 on the year.
The freshman made his only hit count, giving PC its first
lead of the day with one swing. Another run in the inning proved crucial as
UConn scored one in the eighth to cut PC's lead to one. Michael Trebendis
(Fayetteville, Ga.) entered in the ninth and nailed down his third save of the
season, helping Chad Sanders (St. Simons Island, Ga.) get the win in relief.
Billy Motroni (Goose Creek, S.C.) went three-for-five
against the Huskies on Sunday.
UConn tagged the Blue Hose for three runs in the first on a
long home run from LJ Mazilli to left field. The Huskies turned out the only two hits they would post until the seventh
inning.
Starting pitcher Bud Jeter (Columbia, S.C.) settled down
after a wild first that saw PC commit two errors. The junior shut down UConn offensively
after the opening inning, striking out six in the effort.
PC turned two 6-3 double plays to get out of the third and
fourth as shortstop Ryan Hagan (Sugar Hill, Ga.) grabbed a grounder, stepped on
second and threw to first to hold UConn scoreless in the frames.
The Blue Hose appeared to the tie the game in the bottom of
the sixth as relief pitcher David Mahoney fielded a Motroni bunt and threw to
first, only to sail the throw wide. Two runners came around to score but the
home plate umpire called interference on Motroni and the inning ended without a
PC run.
McRae and PC struck in the seventh. Brad Zebedis (Rock Hill,
S.C.) knocked a leadoff single to right field before Aaron Preston (Goose
Creek, S.C.) drew a full-count walk to bring up McRae. The sophomore then
smacked the first pitch from Mahoney over the left field wall to make the score 4-3
in favor of the Blue Hose. An error and a single moved Hagan to third with
runners on the corners. Derek Long (Alpharetta, Ga.) laid down a perfect
squeeze bunt for an infield hit and an RBI that gave PC a 5-3 lead.
The Huskies took one back in the eighth, but the PC defense
held strong. A hit-by-pitch and a single brought Tim Corbin (Murrells Inlet,
S.C.) into the game. A fielder's choice moved runners over and set
up a UConn single to right field. One scored on the play but rightfielder
Brandon Paul (Augusta, Ga.) threw a laser that caught the tying run at the
plate for out number two. Corbin then secured a bases-loaded strikeout to get
out of the inning.
Sanders earned the win with an inning and a third of strong
play, striking out one and allowing two hits.
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UConn............... 300 000 010 - 4
6 2 (10-6)
Presbyterian College 000 010 40X - 5 13
3 (13-8)
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Pitchers: UConn - WARD, Brian; MAHONEY, David(6); JOLIN, Will(7) and McDOWELL,
Max.
Presbyterian College - JETER, Bud; SANDERS, Chad(6); CORBIN, Tim(8); TREBENDIS,
Michael(9) and LONG, Derek.
Win-SANDERS, Chad(2-1) Save-TREBENDIS,
Michael(3) Loss-MAHONEY, David(0-1) T-2:32
A-311
HR UCONN - MAZZILLI, LJ.
HR PC - MCRAE, Cam (1).
Weather: Mid-70s, slight breeze, bright
SANDERS, C. faced 2 batters in the 8th.
