CINCINNATI - The UConn baseball team (10-14, 0-1 BIG EAST) scored five runs in the ninth and brought the tying run to the plate but ultimately lost, 8-6, at Xavier (13-13, 1-0 BIG EAST) on Friday afternoon at Hayden Field.
Rob Rispoli kicked off the game with a lead off home run against Xavier starter Ryan Peich, his third long ball of the year, to make it 1-0.
The Huskies were limited to just three hits through eight innings. In the ninth inning, Gabriel Tirado hit his first career home run to lead off the frame.
Bryan Padllla followed with a single, advanced to second on a walk to Sam Biller and moved to third on a Caleb Shpur single.
With the bases loaded, Matt Garbowski hit a one-hopper back to the pitcher but the Xavier hurler threw it past the catcher to bring in a run.
Down 8-3 with the bases loaded and no outs, Rispoli followed with a bases loaded walk to bring the potential tying run to the plate.
Tyler Minick lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it an 8-5 scoreline. Ryan Daniels hit into a RBI fielder's choice to make it an 8-6 game.
After a pitching change, Grant MacArthur struck out the end the ballgame.
UConn starting pitcher Oliver Pudvar tied a season-high with 7.0 innings of work and struck out nine.
Next up, the Huskies and Musketeers will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.
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