March 13, 2005
UConn wins USA Challenge with 4-0 record
Indiana State, Arkansas-Little Rock pick up victories
MILLINGTON, TN - The University of Connecticut (9-3) wrapped up a perfect weekend with a 3-0 shutout of Tennessee-Martin (4-10) in the first game of the day in the USA Challenge at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Sunday. The Huskies received another outstanding outing from their starting pitcher as Rich Sirois (2-1) tossed seven and one-third scoreless innings while striking out six.

Austin Wasserman, Tony Mallozzi, Larry Day, and Dennis Donovan each had two hits for UConn. Joe Smeraglino notched his first save of the season for the Huskies.

In the second game, Indiana State (3-9) jumped out to a 10-3 but needed a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth from Ryan Witges to cap off an 11-10 victory over the University of Memphis (5-6). ISU, which had had a hard time scoring this season, notched their highest run output of the year with 11 runs on the afternoon. Jake Eigsti and Chris Schmidt hit the Sycamores second and third home runs of the season in the game.

In the final game of the day, UALR earned second place in the USA Challenge with a 3-0 victory over Tennessee-Martin. The Trojans finished the event 2-2 but defeated Indiana State, which was also 2-2. ISU finished third in the event.  

March 12, 2005
UConn and Memphis pick up wins in second day of USA Challenge
Indiana State splits
MILLINGTON, TN - The University of Memphis (5-5) opened the day with a 5-1 decision over Arkansas-Little Rock (9-13) in the USA Challenge at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Saturday. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead on a first-inning three-run homer by Adam Amar. Amar also drove in a run in the fourth. Daniel de Armas (1-0) allowed only one run and three hits in five innings. Cody Fry (1-1) took the loss for UALR.

Indiana State scored four unanswered runs to rally for a 4-2 victory over Tennessee-Martin (4-9) in the second game of the day. Rance Fosdick led the way for the Sycamores, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Tim Brewer also had three hits for ISU. Chad Dawson tossed eight and one-third innings for his first win of the season. Dawson fanned eight. 

Connecticut (8-3) rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh for a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over Indiana State (2-9) in the nightcap. Austin Wasserman, Tony Mallozzi, and Bryan Mahler, the top three spots in the order, combined to go 6-for-10 scoring all five runs and driving in four of them. Connecticut, which has already clinched the tournament title, will go for a perfect weekend against Tennessee-Martin on Sunday. 

Sunday's schedule
10 am - UT-Martin vs. Connecticut 
1 pm - Indiana State vs. Memphis
4 pm - UT-Martin vs. UALR 

March 11, 2005
UConn wins twice; UALR splits in opening day of USA Challenge
Memphis downed 3-1 by Huskies
MILLINGTON, TN - The University of Connecticut (7-3) got two strong outings by their starting pitchers, which included thirteen plus scoreless innings, to pick up a 7-4 win over Arkansas-Little Rock and a 3-1 victory over the University of Memphis (4-5) in the USA Challenge at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. Friday. Against UALR, Jeff Hourigan tossed five and two-thirds scoreless innings to pick up his second win of the season. In the nightcap, Tim Norton (1-0) threw eight scoreless innings to down the Tigers.

Matt Karl had two hits and two RBI against the Trojans, while Tony Mallozzi drove in two against the U of M.

Nick Enlow (1-4) took the loss for UALR, while Stephen Gostkowski (1-2) lost for Memphis.

In the first game of the day, UALR (9-12) rallied from down 2-0 to defeat Indiana State 3-2 in ten innings. Tommy Bryant hit a solo homer for the Trojans, and Tim Lawrence had the game-winning walk-off double. Trevor Clay (2-2) earned the win for Arkansas-Little Rock, and Josh Black (0-2) took the loss for the Sycamores.

March 7, 2005
Five conferences collide in USA Challenge
MILLINGTON, TN - Teams from five different conferences will be in Millington this weekend for the second-year three-day event. The teams will include the University of Connecticut (Big East), the University of Memphis (Conference USA), Indiana State University (Missouri Valley), the University of Tennessee-Martin (Ohio Valley), and University of Arkansas-Little Rock (Sun Belt). This is the first visit to Millington for UALR.

Connecticut is making their second trip to USA Stadium, after finishing as the runners-up in 1999 in the Service Academy Classic. The Huskies are currently in Bradenton, Florida on their spring break trip. Thus far, they are 2-1 with three more games to play before they come to Millington. UConn (3-3) has wins over Belmont, Mount St. Mary’s, and Central Michigan.

Memphis, which had a strong showing in the Service Academy Spring Classic two weeks ago, defeated Tennessee-Martin 4-1 last week, before falling two games to one against Nicholls State. The Tigers (4-4) took games from Air Force and Missouri during the Classic. Memphis will host Middle Tennessee State Tuesday and Wednesday before the Challenge begins.

Arkansas-Little Rock (8-9) has the most games under their belt entering the weekend. The Trojans swept a three-game series against Jackson State and have a pair of wins over both Western Illinois and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. UALR gave the LSU Tigers all they wanted in a three-game series, leading in two of the games before LSU emerged victorious. Arkansas-Little Rock will play two games with Murray State before heading to Millington.

Indiana State (1-5) have struggled thus far with three one-run losses early in the season. The Sycamore defeated Air Force 9-3 for their lone win. They will take on Austin Peay in a double header on Tuesday, hoping to head into Millington on a high.

UT-Martin (4-6) has three wins over Western Illinois and a win over Martin Methodist coming into the Challenge. They take on Evansville in single games on Tuesday and Wednesday.