Colleges

Rutgers defeats UConn

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published May 26, 2006

CLEARWATER - Matt Giannini took a six-hitter into the ninth inning and Mike Bionde had four hits as Rutgers eliminated Connecticut from the Big East Conference tournament with a 9-5 victory Thursday at Bright House Networks Field.

Giannini (6-5) won for the sixth time in his past seven decisions, allowing five runs and eight hits over eight-plus innings. He departed after loading the bases with no outs in the ninth. All three runners later scored.

Ryan Hill hit a two-run single during a seven-run fourth that put Rutgers ahead 8-0. Bionde, Tim Querns and Todd Frazier had RBI singles.

Rutgers will have to beat Louisville twice today to reach Saturday's title game.

Brendan Monaghan had three RBIs, and Anthony Smith, Will Vogl and Jeff Grantham each drove in two runs to lead St. John's.

Monaghan had a sacrifice fly in the second and run-scoring doubles in the fourth and ninth innings.

Smith hit a two-run single in the fourth when St. John's scored six times to take a 7-5 lead. Vogl made it 9-6 on a two-run homer in the eighth.

Rutgers 9, Connecticut 5

St. John's 12, West Virginia 7

TODAY'S GAMES

Louisville vs. Rutgers, 10 a.m. and, if necessary, 5 p.m.

Notre Dame vs. St. John's, 1 p.m. and, if necessary, 6 p.m.

[Last modified May 26, 2006, 00:51:15]