Postgame Quotes

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The UConn baseball team (43-16) dropped its NCAA Regional opener against Texas Tech (40-21), 3-2, on Friday afternoon at Condron Ballpark. 

The Huskies did not grab their first hit until the sixth inning with a base hit from David Smith that deflected off starting pitcher Mason Molina. 

The Huskies trailed 3-0 at the time and started to rally in the seventh. Ben Huber and Jake Studley walked to open the seventh and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.

Freshman pinch-hitter Ryan Daniels drove in the first run on an RBI ground out to second and fellow freshman pinch-hitter Maddix Dalena smoked an RBI single into right field to make it a one-run ballgame, 3-2. 

Drew Kron pinch ran for Dalena and immediately attempted to steal second but was ruled out at second on a very close tag play. 

Zach Fogell was solid out of the Huskies bullpen, throwing 3.2 innings, allowed one hit, zero runs and struck out four. 

Korey Morton led off the eighth inning with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out to right field for David Smith. 

With the tying run at third and one out, a shallow fly out to right couldn't get the run home. With two outs a fly out to right ended the threat.

Stephen Quigley got the start for the Huskies and was solid, throwing 4.1 innings and worked around trouble before passing the ball to Fogell.

UConn was unable to mount a rally in the ninth and fall to the loser's bracket of the Gainesville Regional. The Huskies will play in an elimination game tomorrow at 12 p.m. against the loser of Florida/Florida A&M. 

Game Notes

• UConn is 11-13 in NCAA Tournament Openers. 
• Ben Huber extended his reach base streak to 26 games with a walk in the seventh.
• The Huskies are 1-5 all-time against the Red Raiders.
• UConn is 20-2 this season when holding an opponent to three runs or less. (Ohio State, Opening Night, 2/17/23).