March 25, 2008

NEW HAVEN, Conn.--The Yale baseball team may finally be back in Connecticut, but the squad isn't done with its road trip just yet. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, Wednesday's trip is a short one, as Yale heads to Storrs for a 3 p.m. showdown with Connecticut. The game is Yale's last before the start of Ivy play this weekend at Penn and Columbia.

Yale (6-13) just completed its 16-game Spring Break road trip. Ryan Lavarnway, Yale's all-time home run leader, leads the squad with eight homers, 22 RBIs and 15 runs scored. He and Josh Cox are tied for the team lead in batting average (.383), and Cox also paces the squad in hits (31) and doubles (8). Jake Doyle has started every game in right field and has four home runs and 17 RBIs. Brian Irving and Brandon Josselyn lead the pitching staff. Irving has a 4.50 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 22 innings, while Josselyn boasts a 4.84 ERA. Steve Gilman hasn't allowed a run in 7.1 innings of relief and has three saves.

The Huskies (9-10) defeated Massachusetts, 4-2, in their home opener on Monday. Mike Nemeth leads the team with a .375 batting average, while Pierre LePage has a team-high 24 hits and 18 runs. Mike Olt has four home runs and six doubles, and Peter Fatse leads the Huskies with 20 RBIs. No pitcher has recorded more than one victory. David Erickson hasn't given up a run in seven innings and has one save. Maxx Catapano has a 1.98 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 13.2 innings of relief. Right-hander Trent DeLazzer will make the start for the Huskies on Wednesday. DeLazzer is 1-1 with a 5.51 ERA in four appearances.

The Bulldogs and Huskies met in Yale's home opener last season, and Connecticut posted an 18-7 victory. The teams last met in Storrs in 2006, with Connecticut winning 8-5. Yale's last win over the Huskies was a 1-0 triumph on March 30, 2005.

Report filed by Joe Clifford, Yale Sports Publicity