MASON, Ohio – With a spot in the title game on the line at the 2023 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Presented by Jeep, No. 1 seed Connecticut defeated No. 4 seed Georgetown, 10-1, Friday night at Prasco Park.
 
The win sets up a matchup against UConn and No. 2 seed Xavier Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The contest marks the third consecutive meeting between the pair of programs in the BIG EAST Championship game. The Huskies won the previous two meetings in 2021 and 2022, with UConn winning the if necessary rubber match in 2021, before sweeping the field in 2022.
 
This season, Xavier enters the afternoon game with a 2-0 tournament record looking to capture the fourth BIG EAST Championship in program history. Meanwhile, the Huskies will need to win both the 2 p.m. game and if necessary contest scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to capture its sixth BIG EAST title.
 
Entering the bottom of the third inning, Georgetown maintained a 1-0 lead over UConn, after graduate­­ designated hitter Ubaldo Lopez smacked the first pitch he faced deep down the left field line and into the stands.
 
Settling in on the mound following the home run, graduate left-handed pitcher Andrew Sears allowed just four hits the rest of the way, pitching a total of 8.0 innings with eight strikeouts and just one run allowed.
 
The Huskies broke the game open in the bottom of the third with five runs scored, before tacking on three more in the bottom of the fourth to take a commanding 8-1 lead.
 
With graduate second baseman Paul Tammaro and redshirt sophomore center fielder David Smith on base, graduate third baseman Dominic Freeberger stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle to send Smith home for the Huskies first score of the game.
 
Five pitches into the next at bat, graduate first baseman Ben Huber registered a three-run homer to right field, as Freeberger and Tammaro both rounded the bases as well.
 
Closing out the five-run inning, graduate designated hitter Luke Broadhurst reached on a fielding error, allowing graduate right fielder Jake Studley to score on the play.
 
The Huskies continued to tack on to their lead in the fourth inning with Freeberger singling down the fight field line to send junior outfielder Korey Morton home.
 
Moments later, Huber collected two more RBI on the day with a single, scoring Tammaro and Smith and extending the lead to seven. Overall, Huber capped the day with five RBI.
 
The Huskies extended the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Broadhurst singled to right center to send Huber around the bases for his second run of the game. On the very next at bat, redshirt sophomore shortstop Bryan Padilla collected an RBI single to allow Studley to score.
 
All games will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports.
 
2023 BIG EAST Baseball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 24
Game 1: No. 1 seed Connecticut 5, No. 4 seed Georgetown 4
Game 2: No. 2 seed Xavier 6, No. 3 seed Seton Hall 5

Thursday, May 25
Game 3: No. 4 seed Georgetown 6, No. 3 seed Seton Hall 3
Game 4: No. 2 seed Xavier 10, No. 1 seed Connecticut 2

Friday, May 26
Game 5: No. 1 Connecticut 10, No. 4 seed Georgetown 1

Saturday, May 27
Game 6: No. 2 Xavier vs No. 1 seed Connecticut - 2 p.m.
*Game 7: No. 2 Xavier vs. No. 1 seed Connecticut - 5:30 p.m.
 
*If necessary