Connecticut Hands Wildcats 10-1 Loss

Sunday, February 22

St. Petersburg, Fla.

10:00 AM

Northwestern

Connecticut

2/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Feb. 22, 2009

Box Score

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Northwestern fell behind 5-0 after three innings and was unable to recover in falling 10-1 to Connecticut in the Wildcats' final game of the Big East/Big Ten Challenge Sunday morning. The loss drops NU to 1-2 on the season.

The 'Cats remain in Florida for one more contest Monday morning as they'll take on West Virginia at 10 a.m. Central time.

Freshman Zach Morton made his first career start on the mound for Northwestern but had troubles locating his off-speed pitches. The Huskies took advantage, scoring twice in the first and third innings and once apiece in the second and fifth frames.

The right-hander ended up tossing five innings, allowing nine hits and six runs in his first collegiate outing.

The Wildcats tallied their lone run in the top of the sixth inning to close within 6-1. Chris Lashmet reached on an error to open the inning and two batters later moved to third on a single by Kenneth Avila and an ensuing error. The Huskies' third baseman made contact with Lashmet on the play and the NU sophomore was awarded home plate on the play by virtue of obstruction.

Connecticut was able to put the game out of reach in its half of the sixth by scoring four times against Northwestern reliever Brian Morgan. The senior righty was able to settle in after the frame to shut down the Huskies over the last two innings, retiring the last six batters he faced in order.