Missouri State Takeaways and Highlights

The Huskies got off to a great start in this weekend’s Governor’s Challenge, defeating No.12/25 Missouri State 12-4. Here are some of my takeaways from the ballgame.

• Anthony Kay was superb today. He worked ahead in the count and was able to capitalize, tying a career-high 10 strikeouts (Siena, 2/22/15).
• Kay was able to work fastball in and then follow it up by locating his off speed pitches (especially his changeup) away to hitters. Kay was able to use this formula to get strikeouts looking on the outer half. Then Kay was also able to elevate the fastball and get the Bears hitters to chase.
• Due to the high number of strikeouts, Kay was over 100 pitches after six innings of work. The only mistake of the game was following a 2-0ut walk and error by Yahn. Kay laid in a get me over fastball that Alex Jefferson hit over the left field fence.
• All in all, exactly the performance UConn needed to get their weekend going.
• Bobby Melley continues to impress in the early going with another multi-hit game.
• Melley had one of the key at bats of the ballgame. In the eighth inning with two-on and two out, Melley worked a lengthy at bat, fouling off a couple two strike pitches, before grounding a ball down the third base line that drove in two Huskies. The 2-run double extended the UConn lead to 9-4 after Missouri State had closed the gap in the middle innings.
• Melley has led with his bat the last couple games, coming through with the clutch hits and RBI’s that you need from a senior leader.
• Tyler Gnesda had a great day at the plate as well. Gnesda opened the scoring for Connecticut with a two-run single in the first inning. The base hit came with two outs and really set the tone for the Husky offense.
• Gnesda also capped off the scoring with his first career home run with the Huskies. His three-run HR to the opposite field gave UConn a 12-4 cushion and put the finishing touches on the win.
• The box score may say that the Huskies won comfortably, but that wasn’t the case when Devin Over entered the game. Over came in with UConn leading 7-4 in the seventh inning. After Over issued a four pitch walk, Over overcame the adversity. With the bases loaded and one away, Over struck out Paulsen, before getting the pinch-hitter, Meyer, to fly out to right field.
• Over then worked a quick 1-2-3 8th inning and stopped the Missouri State momentum.