University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Take On Rhode Island on Cox Sports Television
4/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 22, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut baseball team will face off with the University of Rhode Island on Wednesday, April 22 in a non-conference match-up set to start at 3:30 p.m. Today's contest will be taped on Cox Sports Television but will not be aired until Sunday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. on Cox.
Live statistics and play-by-play for today's ballgame are available through UConnHuskies.com.
IN-STATE MATCH-UP
UConn, currently 22-16 on the year, travels to Rhode Island to face the 25- 13-1 Rams in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon. UConn enters today's contest after winning nine of its last 11 games.
HOMERUN HITTER
Freshman George Springer is leading the way with 11 homeruns in his first season with the Huskies.
MR. CLUTCH
Matt Burnett is batting .484 (31-for- 64) with runners on base as the Huskies, as a team, are hitting .302 in that scenerio. With the bases loaded Burnett is 4-for-7 (.571 average) and with runners in scoring position he is batting .500 (21-for-42).
DOUBLE DIGITS
UConn has recorded double-digit runs in 15 games this season, including eight of its last 11 games. In the Huskies' last 11 games they are averaging 9.4 runs per game.
STREAKING
Freshman Nick Ahmed is currently on an 15-game hiting streak for the Huskies; the longest for the ballclub this season. Matt Burnett had a 14-game hitting streak going this year as he recorded a hit in the Huskies' first 14 games of the 2009 season.
THEIR LAST 10
In the Huskies last 11 games they are posting a 9-2 record led by multiple wins from both Scott Oberg and John Folino on the hill. During the last 11 games played, UConn has averaged 8.4 runs, 12.5 hits and 8.6 RBIs per contest. From the hill, the Huskies have allowed an average of 8.6 hits and 4.5 runs per game, while striking out 7.8 batters per contest. Pierre LePage has led the Huskies over the 11-game span, batting .475 with 19 hits, 10 runs scored and eight RBIs. George Springer has recorded six homeruns, 21 RBI and 18 hits.
ARE WE THERE YET?
The 2009 BIG EAST Conference Championship Tournament will take place May 19-23 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Huskies are currently 9-6 at J.O. Christian Field this season. In the last 11 games, UConn boasts a 5-1 record in Storrs, Conn.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
UConn is 9-3 on the road as the Huskies' first road game since traveling to Rutgers on April 11. The Rams are currently 10-1 on their home field, which sets for a challenging task for the Huskies.
THEY DON'T LIKE TO LOSE
The UConn pitching staff boasts six pitchers with winning records, including three that have no losses to their credit.
Scott Oberg, Dave Fischer and Matt McDonald all have seen action in eight or more games and have no recorded a loss as of yet. McDonald leads the way with a 3-0 record in five starts, while Oberg has a 2-0 record and a 0.77 ERA, the team's best this season.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
The Rams enter today's game with a record of 24-13-1 on the year. Rhode Island is 13-11-1 in non-conference action in 2009 and have won 10 games on their home field this season. Led by Oliver Palmer, the Rams are batting .298 on the year as Palmer is batting .382 with 55 hits, 38 runs, 17 doubles and eight homeruns.
On the hill, Tim Boyce is 5-1 with 45 strikeouts. Eric Smith also has a winning record with four wins and just one loss. Smith has 11 apearances on the mound and eight starts for the Rams as he has struck out 35.
BATTLE OF THE BATS
UConn recorded a season-high 18 hits and 14 runs in the Huskies' 21-14 loss to No. 30 Ohio State on Sunday, March 1. The Buckeyes recorded 21 runs on 20 hits in 45 at-bats. The Huskies also recorded 18 hits and 10 runs at Seton Hall on April 5 in the Huskies' 10-3 win.
FIVE IN A ROW
The Huskies recorded a five-game winning streak, their longest this season before a 5-2 loss to Georgetown.
HUSKIES AMONG THE TOP OF THE BIG EAST
(as of April 19)
UConn ranks second among BIG EAST teams with a 4.27 ERA, while ranking third with an opposing team batting average of .265. The Huskies are also second with 290 strikeouts against opponents.
George Springer ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in slugging percentage with a mark of .653 on the year. He is also tied for third with 10 homeruns. Springer is in an eight-person tie for first with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
David Erickson is in a three-way tie in third place with five saves. John Folino is ranks seventh in ERA (3.08) and fourth in batters struck out (50). Pierre LePage is in third among the league's best with 112 assists. Mike Nemeth is also in third in putouts with 326 on the year.
Matt Burnett's four walks against Georgetown on April 19 tie for the most walks in a game among BIG EAST opponents
this season.
BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS
Four Huskies have been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll this season.
March 2 - Mike Olt
March 30 - Peter Fatse & John Folino
April 13 - George Springer
WHAT'S ON DECK
The Huskies will host St. John's on Friday-Sunday, April 24-26 at J.O. Christian Field for a BIG EAST Conference weekend series. Live stats, audio and video will be available through UConnHuskies.com.
