The Daily Campus

Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Dan Gindraux Pierre LePage was one of the only players that had success in UConn's 9-6 loss to Northeastern. He is seen here in a game against Yale earlier this season.

With two outs in the top of the third inning, Huskies head coach Jim Penders was forced to make the decision to take starter Matt McDonald out of the game after he struggled through two and two-thirds innings, giving up seven runs and putting UConn in a deep hole early in the game.

Penders said it was his fault for leaving McDonald in longer, but the decision that followed soon after made Penders look like a genius.

Down 7-0 in the third inning, Penders handed the ball off to Ted Hurvul, a freshman reliever who had only two appearances - one inning apiece - heading into the game.

Hurvul exceeded all expectations, holding Northeastern (13-16-1) hitless for four and one-thirds innings, and, more importantly, keeping UConn's chances of pulling out the come-from-behind win alive.

The Huskies (18-18) lost in the end however, 9-6, at J.O. Christian field Monday, but the end result takes nothing away from the outing Hurvul put together.

Following the game, Hurvul was the only player that received praise from his coach, who said he was the only player on the field to play "Connecticut baseball."

"Ted Hurvul gave us a chance to win the ball game," Penders said. "He pitched like a Connecticut baseball player today and fought and gave us a chance. He got an opportunity that he hasn't had in a long time and he made the absolute most of it."

Hurvul struck out three and walked two in only his third appearance of the season. Coming into Monday's game, he had only faced 10 batters - four were struck out.

Monday Hurvul faced 15 batters, allowing only two to reach base - both on walks - and said he had no trouble pitching a little longer than in previous outings as he was a starter in high school.

This last time Hurvul took the mound was March 23 when the Huskies hosted Villanova in UConn's first home Big East series. He pitched one inning, allowing one hit and striking out the side.

"I was well rested," Hurvul said. "I'm always ready, just hoping I could get that chance and take [advantage] of it."

Continued...

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