UConn’s baseball squad saw its regular‑season finale slip away on Saturday, dropping a 9‑6 decision to Villanova before a modest crowd at Elliot Ballpark. The loss dropped the Huskies to a 9‑10 record at home, marking their first losing record in the venue.
The Wildcats struck first, with leadoff man JoJo Montgomery drawing a walk and later scoring twice, while Collin Quintano’s two‑run homer in the third inning extended the lead. Montgomery finished the day reaching base four times and scoring three runs, and Quintano added four RBIs to his stat line.
A Late Surge Falls Short
In the bottom of the ninth, Anthony Belisario walked on four pitches to lead off the inning, and Cam Righi followed with a single that put runners on the corners with no outs. Jackson Marshall then sent a fly ball to left that glanced off Austin Lemon’s glove, allowing Marshall to reach third. Maddix Dalena’s double on a two‑strike count cut the deficit, but Chris Polemeni struck out to end the game, sealing a 9‑6 final.
Starter Oliver Pudvar had a rough outing, surrendering six earned runs in just 3.1 innings before being pulled. Villanova’s early onslaught included a two‑run single from Montgomery and a blooper from Austin Lemon that set up a two‑run top of the third, while Aidan Barry’s two‑run homer knocked Pudvar out of the game.
Before the game, UConn honored eight seniors on Senior Day, recognizing players such as Garret Garbinski, Steve Thomas, Evan Hamberger and Paxton Meyers who had contributed out of the bullpen throughout the season. The ceremony added a sentimental note to a day that otherwise ended in disappointment.
Despite the setback, the Huskies will enter the Big East Championship Tournament as the No. 2 seed, setting up a first‑round clash with Xavier. All tournament games will be broadcast on ESPN+, giving the team a national platform to rebound.
The regular‑season title finished in a three‑way tie, but the Huskies’ focus now shifts to the double‑elimination format, where a strong start could rewrite the narrative from a missed outright crown to a potential championship run.