University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
USC
Olt's Three Hits Lead Huskies Past USC 5-4
3/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 11, 2010
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Mike Olt had three hits, including an RBI double in the ninth inning to drive in Pierre LePage as the University of Connecticut baseball team defeated the University of Southern California 5-4 on Wednesday night.
The Huskies improve to 6-2 on the year with the victory as they went 4-1 on their West Coast trip.
LePage singled to center off Brandon Garcia to lead off the ninth, moving to second on a wild pitch. Ahmed sacrificed to LePage before George Springer was intentionally walked. Olt then hit a long fly ball to center with O'Neill unable to make the play as the eventual winning run scored for the Huskies. Joe De Pinto laid down a bunt single with one out in the bottom of the ninth and got to second after Pavone's throw sailed over first base. Vance then got Ricky Oropesa to fly out to left and struck out Matt Foat to seal the win.
Despite walking three batters in the first inning, UConn was able to hold the Trojans scoreless in the first, stranding two runners on base but in the second, USC (6-7) went up 1-0 as another walk, followed by two singles and a sacrifice fly gave the home team an early lead.
USC added another run in the third inning as Ricky Oropesa used an infield single to get on base before advancing to second on an error by UConn starting hurler, Bob Van Woert. Oropesa then moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt before scoring on a groundout to put the Trojans up 2-0.
In the fifth, UConn took a 3-2 lead, as senior Matt Burnett reached base on an error by USC's third baseman, Matt Hart. Junior catcher Joe Pavone put runners on first and second for the Huskies after forcing a walk before both he and Burnett moved into scoring position on a Billy Ferriter sacrifice bunt. UConn's first run of the ballgame was scored by Burnett who crossed the plate on a wild pitch, before scored on an RBI single by junior Pierre LePage.
After earning a free pass to second on a balk, LePage scored on a base hit by sophomore Nick Ahmed before Ahmed ended the inning by being caught stealing second base.
Chad Smith left the game after 4.2 innings of work for the Trojans. Smith allowed three hits and three runs scored, none of which were earned, as he struck out six Huskies.
USC tied the game at three in the bottom of the fifth as another bunt single and error but a Trojan ballplayer into scoring position. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third before Oropesa connected on an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
UConn took its second lead of the contest as it went ahead 4-3 in the top of the sixth as Olt led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on two Husky groundouts.
After giving up a double to USC's leadoff hitter in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Scott Oberg came into the game for Van Woert on the hill. Van Woert threw five innings, allowing seven hits, four runs, three earned runs and four walks. The Trojan's Hart was able to score on a sacrifice fly before Oberg secured the final out of the frame with his first strikeout of the game.
Oberg (1-0) threw 3.0 innings, while allowing three hits and striking out two for his first victory of the season as Vance earned his first career save. USC's Garcia took the loss to drop to 0-1 on the year.
Olt went 3-for-5 with one RBI, while LePage finished the night with two hits and two runs and Ahmed also had two hits.
UConn will return to action on Friday as the Huskies take on Tennessee at 6:00 p.m. (EST).
