2008 Woodie Awards
Poor Overall Play Results In 9-6 Loss
Baseball
Mike Northup
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Sports
Baseball head coach Jim Penders said he wouldn't be getting any sleep Monday night. Not after Northeastern handed UConn its third straight loss, 9-6, in a game where the home-standing Huskies struggled early and often.
"It was us today - we stunk," Penders said. "I'm glad we don't charge admission because I'd want to give everyone a refund. We did not play Connecticut baseball today and, me included, we all stunk. I stunk and every single guy in our dugout stunk because we didn't play Connecticut baseball."
UConn starter Matt McDonald (2-3) struggled mightily through his outing for UConn (18-18), just his second since coming back from a knee sprain suffered March 24 against UMass. Struggling with his command all afternoon, McDonald gave up seven runs (all earned) through 2.2 innings against Northeastern.
Meanwhile, Northeastern starter Les Williams (1-3) turned in his best start of the year holding the opposing Huskies to four runs through six innings-pitched, while striking out seven.
Northeastern (13-16-1) worked McDonald hard to manufacture its first four runs, sending every batter to the plate in the first inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out for Northeastern cleanup hitter Frank Pesanello, who walked on four pitches.
Three more runs came during Northeastern first baseman Josh Porter's at-bat. First, a passed ball allowed left fielder Mike Tamsin to score and then a throwing error by Mike Olt let in two more runs.
"I couldn't get into rhythm, I didn't feel comfortable at all," McDonald said. "I hold myself responsible for getting off to a bad start like that. Nothing really else to say. It's not those guys' fault - they look to me to get a good start. So I didn't do that."
McDonald would retire six of the next seven batters, but once again ran into trouble in the third inning. After Northeastern opened up the inning with three straight hits, which scored the team's fifth run of the game, McDonald was able to get two outs on an Alex Fox groundout and a Jeff Dunlap strike out.
"It was us today - we stunk," Penders said. "I'm glad we don't charge admission because I'd want to give everyone a refund. We did not play Connecticut baseball today and, me included, we all stunk. I stunk and every single guy in our dugout stunk because we didn't play Connecticut baseball."
UConn starter Matt McDonald (2-3) struggled mightily through his outing for UConn (18-18), just his second since coming back from a knee sprain suffered March 24 against UMass. Struggling with his command all afternoon, McDonald gave up seven runs (all earned) through 2.2 innings against Northeastern.
Meanwhile, Northeastern starter Les Williams (1-3) turned in his best start of the year holding the opposing Huskies to four runs through six innings-pitched, while striking out seven.
Northeastern (13-16-1) worked McDonald hard to manufacture its first four runs, sending every batter to the plate in the first inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out for Northeastern cleanup hitter Frank Pesanello, who walked on four pitches.
Three more runs came during Northeastern first baseman Josh Porter's at-bat. First, a passed ball allowed left fielder Mike Tamsin to score and then a throwing error by Mike Olt let in two more runs.
"I couldn't get into rhythm, I didn't feel comfortable at all," McDonald said. "I hold myself responsible for getting off to a bad start like that. Nothing really else to say. It's not those guys' fault - they look to me to get a good start. So I didn't do that."
McDonald would retire six of the next seven batters, but once again ran into trouble in the third inning. After Northeastern opened up the inning with three straight hits, which scored the team's fifth run of the game, McDonald was able to get two outs on an Alex Fox groundout and a Jeff Dunlap strike out.
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