OMAHA - The UConn baseball team (13-15, 2-2 BIG EAST) held on for an 8-7 series opening win at Creighton (17-8, 0-1 BIG EAST) on a cold Friday evening at Charles Schwab Field.
The Huskies took an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning with a strong pitching performance from LHP Oliver Pudvar and a good offensive day at the plate.
Pudvar tossed 7.0 shutout innings for the Huskies to earn his fourth win of the season. It is the third-straight start that Pudvar has worked seven innings.
The UConn offense posted a three-spot in the first inning with one hit, three walks and a hit by pitch. A bases loaded walk to Grant MacArthur and bases-loaded hit by pitch to Beau Root made it 2-0.
Bryan Padilla beat out a potential double play ball to bring in another run and make it 3-0. Padilla notched his fourth-straight multi-hit game for the Huskies with a solo home run in the fifth and a double that was initially called a home run in the eighth.
The two hits for the Brooklyn, N.Y. native gives him 200 for his UConn career, becoming the 24th Husky all-time to reach the 200-hit mark.
Ryan Daniels and Grant MacArthur added insurance runs in the eighth with an RBI triple and RBI single, respectively.
Those runs proved to be significant with the Bluejays scoring six times in the eighth inning with the benefit of four walks, one hit by pitch and three hits in the frame.
With the tying run at second, and winning run at first base with one out in the bottom of the ninth, UConn closer Brady Afthim notched back-to-back strikeouts to earn his fifth save of the year.
Next up, the Huskies and and Bleujays resume the series tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT.
Game Notes
- Rob Rispoli has reached base in 12 of his 18 attempts when leading off the game in the first inning.
- Rispoli tied a career-high with three hits and three runs scored.
- Rispoli, Bryan Padlla and Caleb Shpur are all riding season-high five game hit streaks.
- Shpur is 6-10 in his last two games with four runs scored and four stolen bases.
- Padilla produced his first game this year with multiple base hits.
Latest Top News
- National Championship Student Watch Party in Gampel This SundayThe UConn women's basketball team beat #1 UCLA and is competing in the 2025 National Championship! UConn students are invited to Gampel Pavilion on Sunday, April 6 to watch the Huskies compete for their 12th national title.
- Strong, Fudd Lead UConn to National Championship GameSarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn't even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title game, leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament.
- Huskies open the series with a split against ButlerSTORRS, Conn. – The UConn softball team split their doubleheader against Butler on Friday at Burrill Family Field. The Huskies opened the series in thrilling fashion with a comeback win in game one, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, making UConn a 10-9 victor. Butler took game two in the night cap, 9-4.
- Husky Women First, Men Second in UConn Dog Fight InvitationalSTORRS- UConn men's and women's track and field returned home on Friday to host the Dog Fight Invitational, the first of two outdoor meets at the George J Sherman Family Sports Complex this season. The women secured 1st, scoring 188.5 points, 30 more than 2nd place Northeastern. The men took 2nd with 147 points, 14 points off from UAlbany's 161.
- Huskies Remain Undefeated in BIG EASTSTORRS, Conn. - The UConn women's tennis team continues their success in the BIG EAST as they defeat DePaul Friday afternoon. This is the first win over DePual in program history for the Huskies.
- Fighting On For UConnDear UConn Nation,
