Over three intensive battles against the California Golden Bears last weekend, the UConn baseball team scored 20 runs on 32 hits. Despite going 0-3, the Hook C will need that much efficiency out of their offense and more as they battle the No. 23 Auburn Tigers in a three-game series this weekend.
Senior outfielder Korey Morton had the series of his career in Berkeley last week. Morton went 9-15 with four runs batted in and five runs scored over that three-game stretch, a major improvement from when UConn played Cal last season. With a weekend like that, do not be surprised if the senior outfielder stays in the heart of the order against Auburn.
Graduate students Jake Studley and Paul Tammaro III have also had hot starts to their 2024 season. Three of Studley’s eight hits have gone yard, and his 17 total bases rank second behind Morton. Combined with his five runs scored, the Preseason Big East Player of the Year has become a very dangerous No. 3 hitter. Tammaro is the Huskies’ only infielder with more than five hits and a .300 batting average in at least five games played. The graduate infielder’s ability to drive the ball deep makes him more of a threat at the leadoff position than his speed when he is on the basepaths.
The Huskies play past Huskies on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Elliot Ballpark in an Alumni game. Players span from graduating in 99′ to our current fall ball roster.
Four players have swiped a bag for Connecticut, with sophomore infielder Ryan Daniels and graduate outfielder Caleb Shpur accounting for most of them. Daniels, the everyday second baseman, can provide a clutch hit when the Hook C needs one. After starting two of the three games in last weekend’s series, expect Shpur to really acclimate himself into UConn’s lineup versus an SEC foe.
Garrett Coe, one week removed from a career-best 11 strikeouts, should be on the bump tonight. The 2023 Cape League All-Star has been phenomenal over the first two weekends, striking out at least five in both of his starts thus far. While the Tigers strike out less than 10 times per game, Coe should make it difficult for them to get anything going early on.
Junior righty Ian Cooke is looking for a massive rebound after allowing eight runs in 1.1 innings last Saturday. It was a much different outcome than his season-opening quality start where he tossed six shutout innings. For Cooke to produce better results in Alabama, he needs to establish a potent breaking ball early.
That leaves graduate righty Stephen Quigley as the probable starter for the Sunday finale. Quigley could bump up to the middle of the rotation after striking out four in six innings versus the Golden Bears, but nothing has been set in stone. Regardless, the Preseason Big East Pitcher of the Year has a tall task ahead of him against a ranked opponent.
Auburn hosted a regional last season as the No. 13 seed, but their NCAA Tournament run ended with two heartbreaking home losses. The Tigers’ 2024 campaign began on a much better note with a key neutral site win over the then-No. 18 Iowa Hawkeyes in Jacksonville last Friday.
Despite their 7-1 start, Auburn’s offense is in the middle of the Southeastern Conference pack. Their .273 batting average ranks 11th in the SEC while their 81 runs scored are eighth. Head coach Butch Thompson and the Tigers compensate for that with their speed. Auburn’s five triples lead the conference, and only one program has swiped more than their 22 bags.
Most of those come from three players. Miami-Ohio transfer Cooper Weiss is the main troublemaker on the basepaths with 10 stolen bases on 11 attempts. Last season’s MAC Defensive Player of the Year complements that quickness with a .292 batting average and three doubles. Jacksonville State transfer Javon Hernandez makes up for his .059 average with a team-leading nine walks and three stolen bases. On top of stealing three bases, infielder Deric Fabian drives in runs as one of four Tigers with 11 RBIs.
Graduate outfielder Bobby Peirce and sophomore catcher Ike Irish are Auburn’s power hitters. On top of his three homers, Peirce zooms across the basepaths with six of the team’s 24 total bases and two triples. Irish, meanwhile, ignites his team at the dish with two doubles and two homers in the heart of the Tigers’ lineup. Redshirt junior Cooper McMurray is on his own tear with nine RBIs in his last three contests. UConn must consider McMurray in particular because he may continue his hot trend.
Friday starter Chase Allsup has not had the best start to his season, but his 6.75 ERA can be misleading. Allsup has struck out five in both of his appearances so far, and if he regains his command, the Huskies’ offense may have a hard time getting to work. Redshirt junior righty Joseph Gonzalez does not make things any easier with a 3.00 ERA and a 2-0 record. Although he walks more people than he strikes out, Gonzalez has allowed opponents to hit just .133 against him in nine innings.
Even if Connecticut conquers both of them, Alabama-Birmingham transfer Carson Myers awaits on Sunday. Myers’ Auburn career started with six shutout innings versus the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, and after allowing two runs in 4.1 frames last weekend, he is due for another quality start.
For the Hook C, stealing at least one win in an SEC environment would be huge for their NCAA Tournament resume this early in the year. Taking the series is even more significant, but both of those things are easier said than done. As long as their entire offense gets going early and their pitching staff can quiet the rowdy home crowd, UConn has a chance.
The first pitch in tonight’s contest is at 7 p.m. EST while Saturday and Sunday’s games each begin at 2 p.m. Two out of the three matchups are on the SEC Network; all three will be additionally available on MIXLR.