Bulls Drop Opening Game of Big East Tournament to UCONN

Just two weeks after sweeping UCONN in Tampa, the Bulls (34-21, 17-11 in conference play) fell to the same Huskies squad in Clearwater in the opening round of the Big East tournament 2 to 7.  The Bulls allowed 14 hits against them and left 14 batters on the bases as the team struggled early. 

Andrew Barbosa (7-6), after being named 1st team All Big East, went 6 innings, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and struck out 4 batters as the Bulls were down early.  Adrian Puig went 1 inning, allowing 1 hit and 1 strike out.  Steven Leasure came in after him and allowed 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and struck out 1 in one inning of work (Huskies ran away with the game there).  Kyle Parker worked the 9th and allowed 1 hit. 

The offense could not get their base runners in during this game, hurting the team's chances to help the pitching staff.  Luis Llerena went 2 for 4.  James Ramsay went 3 for 5 and scored a run.  Blake Sydeski was 1 for 4 with an RBI and Andrew Longley went 2 for 4 in the game, but it wasn't enough. 

The Bulls will face Pitt today in an elimination game at 5PM.