Was the Miami (FL) series a turning point?
The Huskies are getting on a roll with just a few weeks before conference play.
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The Huskies are looking up
UConn baseball had been unable to gather positive momentum over the first three weekends of the season, getting swept in the Puerto Rico Challenge, before salvaging the Sunday matchup against Florida Atlantic and in the Dodger Classic for a 2-7 record to start the year.
The starting pitching wasn’t going deep into games, taxing the bullpen, while the offense didn’t always have the timeliest hitting. However, it all came together against Miami (FL) and then in the midweek against LIU.
In the series opener, UConn scored the first six runs as the offense worked walks and knocked started Nick Robert out in the fourth, while Oliver Pudvar, in his second start of the season, completed five frames of work, surrendering just one run.
The bullpen was sparkling, with just two hits allowed, though Gabe Van Emon and JT Caruso did issue a pair of free passes each.
Saturday was even better, as the Huskies got down in the third and were able to get to the Hurricanes bullpen, scoring five runs in the eighth to pull away from their hosts. Ian Cooke struggled, getting through just 3 2/3 innings, but Cayden Suchy picked him up, getting through the seventh to save the rest of the relievers. UConn pitching also had one of its best games from a control perspective, walking just three hitters.
Jim Penders’ team was unable to take the sweep in a slugfest, but it was down six on two separate occasions and continued to fight, getting to 11 runs against a depleted Miami pitching staff.
In the midweek, the Huskies used a massive fifth inning to easily dispatch LIU, with a strong pitching performance all around, even from pieces lower on the depth chart.
It had been a trying season for UConn so far, but the offense has continued to hold up its end of the bargain. Despite missing the first weekend, Tyler Minick (.436/.500/.974) has six home runs, which is good for sixth in home runs per game. That slugging percentage is also in the nation’s top 10.
The lineup isn’t quite as long as Penders might like, as Maddix Dalena (.182/.243/.242) and Sam Biller (.222/.308/.378) have had a slow start to the season and are among the three starters with an OPS below .700, while Matt Garbowski (.176/.364/.176) and Connor Lane (.241/.267/.345) have struggled as a unit behind the plate.
However, Grant MacArthur (.426/.534/.681) and Ryan Daniels (.383/.482/.702) have looked like all-conference performers and even Biller and Caleb Shpur have been contributing when they’ve gotten on base, with four steals each.
The schedule gets a bit easier, with series against Campbell and UNC Greensboro, each of which have struggled this season, before conference play begins. Each team has just one series win this season, while Campbell dropped a weekend to Rider and UNC Greensboro fell to Radford.
UConn proved it can do it against a solid team in Miami and when combined with a ranked win against Vanderbilt, the Huskies have plenty of positive momentum rolling into the second month of the season.
Around the Big East
Until RPI is viable, which comes in mid-April, this space will take a look at what each Big East team has been doing in the early part of the season.
Butler
The Bulldogs split with Lindenwood over the weekend, playing four games against the Lions, bouncing back from a run-rule loss in the opener to play three one-run games. However, Butler fell 10-1 to Purdue in midweek play. It’s another four-game set this weekend, this one against Belmont in Nashville before midweek trips to Notre Dame and Ball State.
Creighton
Creighton could only play two against UC Davis, but got the victory in both, playing a Sunday doubleheader, running the winning streak to four with a victory over Kansas State in the midweek. The Bluejays are back on the road this weekend, headed to San Francisco to play the Dons. South Dakota State comes to Omaha on Wednesday.
Georgetown
It was a successful weekend for the Hoyas, as they snagged two home wins, beating Towson and Longwood. They also split a midweek set against Penn State in which 41 runs were scored over two games. Monmouth is this weekend’s foe and Georgetown will make the short trip to Maryland on Tuesday.
St. John’s
NJIT took the series opener, but St. John’s came back and won the series against the Highlanders. However, Stony Brook got the victory in midweek play. Maine makes the trip to Queens for three this weekend and Fairfield will host the Red Storm on Wednesday afternoon.
Seton Hall
Each team took the home games in the split series between Seton Hall and St. Joseph’s, which means the Pirates took the short end of the stick. They did the same against NJIT on Tuesday. Stony Brook will welcome in Seton Hall for three this weekend before a visit to Wagner on Tuesday. Dartmouth comes to South Orange on Wednesday.
Xavier
Xavier got swept at No. 18 Vanderbilt over the weekend, but two of the games were competitive. The team’s losing streak is now at six after a pair of midweek losses to No. 2 LSU and Southeastern Louisiana. The Louisiana trip continues this weekend, with a visit to uptown New Orleans and Tulane for three.
Villanova
The Wildcats dropped a one-run ballgame in the opener against USF and rebounded to take the series with wins on Saturday and Sunday, though they took a step back with a midweek loss to Monmouth. Villanova will host NJIT for three this weekend before Princeton arrives for a game on Wednesday.
Non-conference opponents
Without a new NCAA Tournament bracket projection, this portion of the newsletter will examine trends among UConn’s non-conference opponents.
Campbell (6-10) comes into this weekend’s three-game set with a series win against Texas State under its belt. This is the final non-conference weekend for the Camels.
UNC Greensboro (7-9) will welcome North Carolina A&T. The Spartans haven’t won a series since opening weekend, when they did so against Creighton.
Maine (4-10) has St. John’s for three this weekend. The Black Bears won’t play their first home game until March 25.
Miami (FL) (12-6) opens ACC play against No. 13 Wake Forest this weekend. The Hurricanes look break their two-series losing streak against the Demon Deacons after losing to then-No. 7 Florida and UConn.
Florida Atlantic (14-3) has won eight of 10 going into this weekend’s home series against Bradley since failing to sweep the Huskies a few weeks ago.
The Week Ahead
Friday: at Campbell; 6 p.m.; FloSports
Saturday: at Campbell; 3 p.m.; FloSports
Sunday: at Campbell; 1 p.m.; FloSports
Tuesday: at Duke; 4 p.m.; ACC Network Extra
Wednesday: at North Carolina; 6 p.m.; ACC Network Extra
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