The University of Connecticut baseball team defeated East Tennessee State University, 4-3, at Elliot Ballpark on May 3, giving head coach Jim Penders his 800th career victory.
Penders, in his 23rd year leading the Huskies and coaching at his alma mater, reached this milestone with all wins coming at UConn. The game was marked by a late rally that secured the team’s win despite being limited to three hits.
In the sixth inning, Chase Taylor started a comeback with a walk and advanced to third base on Chris Cancel’s pinch-hit single. After another walk loaded the bases, sophomore Jackson Marshall hit a grand slam—his second of the season and thirteenth home run overall—putting UConn ahead for good.
Pitcher Oliver Pudvar contributed by pitching six and two-thirds innings and allowing three runs for his fourth consecutive victory. Evan Hamberger pitched one shutout inning in relief with two strikeouts, while Greg Shaw III closed out the game with one and one-third scoreless innings to earn his second save of the year.
According to team notes released after the game, Penders now ranks twenty-seventh among active Division I baseball coaches in career wins. The Huskies have also achieved their third one-run win in recent games after not winning any such games earlier this season. Additionally, UConn has never been swept in a series at Elliot Ballpark since it opened six seasons ago over twenty-six total series.
The Huskies will continue their season with an upcoming road series against Seton Hall starting Friday, May 8.
