MASON, Ohio – In front of a boisterous Prasco Park crowd, Connecticut held on to take down Xavier, 6-4, Saturday afternoon and force a winner-take-all second game.
 
The top-seeded Huskies and No. 2 seed Musketeers will return to the field at 5:30 p.m. ET, with the 2023 BIG EAST Baseball Championship title on the line.
 
It was the Huskies who struck first, with a run in each of the first three innings to take an early 3-0 lead. After the Musketeers left two on base in the top of the first, UConn graduate right fielder Jake Studley singled up the middle and collected an Rbi, as redshirt sophomore centerfielder David Smith crossed home plate to give UConn the 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, Smith improved to 2-for-2 on the day with RBI single to left field to send redshirt sophomore short stop Bryan Padilla home to double the lead.
 
Flying out to center field in the bottom of the third, graduate designated hitter Luke Broadhurst registered an RBI, as graduate first baseman Ben Huber checked up from third base to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
Not going away quietly, Xavier cut the deficit to 3-1 after senior second baseman Jared Cushing reached on a fielding error, allowing senior first baseman Matt McCormick to round the bases.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Musketeers evened the tally when senior center fielder Garrett Schultz singled through the right side to collect two RBI, as both graduate left fielder Andrew Walker and graduate short stop Jack Housinger scored. The run was the ninth of the tournament for Housinger.
 
The Huskies bounced back offensively in the bottom of the sixth, as Smith and junior left fielder Korey Morton both scored off a throwing error, as the Huskies took a 5-3 lead.
 
In the very next inning, Huber sent a ball rocketing out of the park to extend the lead to 6-3 off a home run.
 
Stepping in to close out the game on the mound with the bases load, UConn redshirt senior pitcher Justin Willis forced a double play to keep it a 6-3 game through eight innings.
 
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. 1 seed Connecticut 6, No. 2 Xavier 4
Game 7: No. 2 Xavier vs. No. 1 seed Connecticut - 5:30 p.m.