HookC Battles Back, Loses in 12 innings to No. 8 Florida State

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The UConn baseball team's (35-26) season comes to an end after an instant classic in 12 innings against No. 8 Florida State, 10-8, at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.

UConn jumped on the board first against FSU ace Jamie Arnold with a Luke Broadhurst RBI single and Korey Morton RBI double to quicl;y make it 2-0.

For Morton, it was his 200th career hit, becoming just the 23rd Husky to reach the 200-hit plateau. 

After three home runs for the Seminoles gave FSU a 5-2 in the top of the fifth, Luke Broadhurst responded with his 15th homer of the year, a two-run shot, to cut the deficit to one. 

After another FSU homer in the top of the sixth made it 6-4, Broadhurst was at it again. The grad student hit a long fly ball to deep center that hit the top of the fence and cleared the bases to give UConn a 7-6 lead. 

The Seminoles tied the game in the eighth on a solo shot to right field to make it 7-7. 

In the ninth, the Seminoles loaded the bases with no outs, But UConn closer Brady Afthim was able to limit the damage with a sacrifice fly to give FSU a 8-7 lead and then retired the next two batters to keep it a one-run game. 

In the bottom of the ninth, pinch-hitter Matt Malcom delivered a memorable moment with a solo homer to right center to tie the game at 8-8 and quiet the packed Dick Howser Stadium crowd.

The game remained tied into the 12th with James Tibbs hitting his third home run of the game, a two-run homer, to give the Seminoles a 10-8 advantage.

UConn got the tying run to the plate in the ninth but were unable to extend its season.