Pirates Can't Hold Late Lead Against UConn, 4-3

Friday, May 3

South Orange, N.J.

3 p.m.

Seton Hall University

21-25, 4-9

UConn

26-18, 11-2

UConn

Seton Hall

Jackson Balzan throws a pitch against UMass

Photo by: Beth Berardi

5/3/2024 6:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

South Orange, N.J. — Seton Hall had a two-run lead going into the eighth inning against UConn but miscues in the field kept the Huskies in the ballgame and ultimately pushed them to victory as they defeated the Pirates, 4-3, on Friday afternoon at Mike Sheppard, Sr. Stadium.

Due to inclement weather in the forecast on Sunday, the teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 1 p.m.

Jackson Balzan (Medford, N.J.) had four strikeouts and allowed no walks or earned runs in a five-inning start for the Pirates. All four runs that UConn scored on Friday went down as unearned for the Seton Hall pitching staff. Aiden Robbins (Yardley, Pa.) hit his fourth home run of the season that gave the Pirates the lead in the fifth inning and Danny Melnick (Hamilton, N.J.) had an RBI double.

How It Happened

Balzan retired the side in order in the top of the first inning including his first two strikeouts of the game. Seton Hall struck first in the home half where Zack Sylvester (Montville, N.J.) reached on a two-out base hit and Melnick drove him in that made it 1-0. After both sides went scoreless in the second, UConn tied up the score at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning.

Balzan worked around trouble in the top of the fourth and Frankie Scrivanic (Tinton Falls, N.J.) reached on a two-out base hit in the bottom half but the Pirates could not advance him further. Jonathan Luders (Lynnfield, Mass.) led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to right field and Robbins put Seton Hall back in front with one swing as he sent an 0-1 pitch deep to center field that went over the fence for a two-run home run.

With the Pirates now leading 3-1, Espelin came out of the bullpen in place of Balzan and he proceeded to throw two scoreless innings that maintained the lead. With two runners on and one out in the top of the eighth, a Seton Hall error turned a potential inning-ending double play into a UConn run as an errant throw trimmed the Huskies' deficit to one, 3-2. A run-scoring base hit from the next batter tied up the score at 3-3. After the Pirates went down in order in the home half of the eighth, an RBI double in the top of the ninth gave UConn its first lead of the game at 4-3.

Inside The Box Score

Seton Hall pitching allowed just one walk and did not allow an earned run.
The Pirates were 4-for-13 with two outs and all three of their runs were scored with two outs.
Jay Allmer (Asheville, N.C.) picked up four strikeouts in two innings of work.
Sylvester had recorded a hit in five consecutive games and is now hitting a team-best .320.