No. 10 UConn got their 30th win of the season with a 9-0 shutout over Rhode Island Tuesday night in Hartford. (Photo courtesy UConn Athletics)
A day after the University of Connecticut baseball team climbed into the top 10 of the most recent NCAA Division I top 20 poll, the Huskies took care of business Tuesday night at Dunkin’ Park in Hartford.
Six UConn pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters and allow just two hits to lead the No. 10 Huskies to a 9-0 victory before nearly 1,000 fans. It was the third game and third victory of the season for Connecticut in Dunkin’ Park.
Dominic Freeburger and Jake Studley were each 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI for the Huskies (30-11) while Korey Morton was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
UConn (30-11, 6-3 Big East) got going early, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first before adding an additional three runs over the next two innings. Though Rhode Island pushed runners into scoring position in each of those innings, and even loaded up the bases in the fourth, the team was unable to score.
The Huskies did give up six walks in the game.
UConn’s top 10 ranking is the best since the program was ranked No. 8 in the final collegiate poll of the season in 1979 when the Huskies advanced to the College World Series, according to the NCAA.
Rhode Island stepped in to replace Yale, which didn’t have enough health pitchers to participate in the contest.
The game was the 203rd in the long rivalry between the two schools that spans over 120 years. It dates back to the 19th century with the first game between the two programs in 1896.
UConn, which has won four of the last six games between the two schools, leads the overall series, 119-80-4.
(10) UConn 9, Rhode Island 0
At Hartford
Rhode Island (17-20) 000 000 000 — 0-2-3
UConn (30-11) 421 000 02x — 9-9-1
Urena, Hsu (3), French (5), Morrison (7), Andrade (8), Carroll (8) and Butler; Coe, Quigley (4), Ellisen (5), Carrea (7), Abbadessa (8), Fogell (8) and Garbowski; WP: Coe (4-2); LP: Urena (1-1); 2B: Freeburger (C), Studley (C), Broadhurst (C), Morton (C)
