No. 18 UConn Tops Pirates In Saturday Doubleheader

Saturday, April 16

South Orange, N.J.

12 p.m.

Seton Hall University

8-25, 2-3

Connecticut

27-7, 5-0

UConn

Seton Hall

4/16/2022 7:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

South Orange, N.J. — Junior Devin Hack (Somerville, N.J.) went 5-for-8 over two games with three RBI and senior Nick Payero (Monroe, N.J.) only allowed two runs in a six-inning start in game one but No. 18 Connecticut proved to be too much as the Huskies got by Seton Hall in game one of the doubleheader, 3-2, before topping the Pirates in game two, 14-2.

Junior Jonathan Luders (Lynnfield, Mass.) and senior Alex Clyde (Old Tappan, N.J.) tallied multi-hit games in the first game of the twin bill. Sophomore Michael Ciminiello (Saint James, N.Y.) allowed only two base runners in three innings of relief for the Pirates in game one.

How It Happened

In game one, Payero worked around a lead off base hit in the first inning and retired the side in order in the second before the Huskies took a 2-0 lead on a two-run double in the top of the third. After that, Payero was nearly flawless. He induced a double play in the fourth and retired the next six batters in order. Payero was lifted for Ciminiello in the seventh where the Huskies tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly that made it 3-0.

The Pirates threatened in the bottom of the seventh where they had runners on first and second with one out. The next batter hit a ground ball that was set to go through the right side but interference was called after the ball made contact with the runner for the second out. A ground out to third stunted the Seton Hall rally.

Ciminiello did his job and kept the Huskies off the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Clyde led off the inning with a single to right field and, with one out, moved to third on a pinch hit double by senior David Haberman (Morristown, N.J.). With two outs, Hack stepped to the plate and served a bases clearing double down the left field line that cut the deficit to one, 3-2. Despite the tying run standing a second base, a strikeout thwarted another potential Seton Hall come back on the weekend.

In game two, UConn took a 2-0 lead after the fourth and drove across six runs in the top of the fifth to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

The Pirates showed some life in the bottom half of the fifth where Hack roped a one-out double to right field that sent home junior Oscar Murray (Brentwood, Calif.) all the way from first base, giving The Hall its first run of the game. With Hack on third, junior Mark McNelly (Limerick, Pa.) skied a fly ball to right field that brought Hack home on the sacrifice fly, giving the Pirates' their second run of the game. Despite the scoring in the fifth, the Huskies offense proved to be too much as they completed the doubleheader sweep.

Up Next

The Pirates will continue their homestand on Tuesday when they welcome Saint Peter's for a 4 p.m. contest at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Stadium.