Friday Night Baseball on CBS Sports Network

May 9, 2012

Complete Game Notes | Live Chat | Audio | Twitter: @UConnBaseball

STORRS, Conn. - Connecticut has won four of its last five games after dropping four straight and enters this weekend's series at USF in a tie for second in the BIG EAST standings. Game one is set for a 7:00 pm start against the Bulls in Tampa on Friday night.

On the Air... Friday night's contest will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network. James Bates will call all of the play-by-play action alongside former MLB shortstop Kevin Stocker, providing the color commentary. Visit cbssportsnetwork.com/channelfinder to locate CBS Sports in your area.

About the Huskies... UConn remains in second in the BIG EAST with a record of 14-7, while entering the weekend 27-21 overall. The Huskies have played nothing but close games of late as each of the last four have been decided by two runs or less, including two walk-off victories. Redshirt-junior center fielder Billy Ferriter has excelled in the lead-off spot, leading the team with a .363 batting average. He has scored 39 runs, stolen 20 bases and is hitting .424 (28-66) since April 15 with five games of three hits or more. Junior second baseman LJ Mazzilli has been a power source in the lineup, hitting a team-high nine home runs and 17 doubles, while driving in 35 runs and scoring 40. Out of the bullpen, redshirt-junior RHP Scott Oberg has been a workhorse for the Huskies. He is 5-0 with a 1.20 earned run average, six saves and 32 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Last Time Out... The Connecticut Huskies held on for an 8-7 win over the Northeastern Huskies on Tuesday. UConn raced out to a 7-0 lead after the fourth inning behind a home run and three RBI from senior first baseman Tim Martin. NU closed to within one run in the seventh and put the tying run on third, twice, but redshirt-freshman RHP Carson Cross twice worked out of trouble to earn his first career save. Ferriter went 3-6 at the top of the lineup, his second straight three-hit game.

Scouting the Bulls... USF dropped into fourth place in the league standings following a 1-2 weekend against St. John's on the road. The Bulls are 30-18 overall and 13-8 in the BIG EAST. Senior lefty Andrew Barbosa is the ace of the USF staff, holding a 6-4 record and 2.39 ERA, while striking out 90 batters in 70.2 innings. Junior RHP Joey Lovecchio (7-3, 4.44) and redshirt-senior RHP Derrick Stultz (7-1, 3.39) will also start for the Bulls this weekend. At the plate, sophomore center fielder James Ramsey is the only player hitting above .300 at .333 with 27 RBI and a team-high 13 steals. Senior catchers Andrew Longley and Daniel Rockhold each hit for a low average, but lead the team with 6 home runs, apiece. However, Rockhold has not played since April 26 vs. Villanova.

All-Time vs. USF... The Huskies have won five straight over the Bulls and 12 out of 14. Since USF joined the BIG EAST, UConn holds a 13-6 advantage, including a perfect 4-0 record in the conference tournament. Overall, the Huskies lead the all-time series, 16-14, taking the first two games in 1968. After 1973, the two teams faced only once until joining leagues.

Last Time They Met... No. 20 UConn shutout USF behind 10 Ks in eight innings from LHP Brian Ward en route to his fourth straight win. Ryan Fuller doubled in the first to provide all the offense needed in a 2-0 win for the Huskies.

TWI(UConn)B History... Connecticut fell to Providence in the 1992 BIG EAST Championship game at Muzzy Field in Bristol, Conn. The Huskies picked up two wins over Seton Hall and knocked off the Friars once before losing in the final, 5-3. Jim Penders hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the tournament.

Up Next... The Huskies host Rhode Island at Dodd Stadium for their final non-conference game at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 15.

Bullpen Bulldog... Oberg has pitched 30.0 innings out of the bullpen in 17 appearances after sitting out the 2011 season due to Tommy John surgery. This season, Oberg assumed the role of closer and has nailed down six saves. He is also the team leader in wins with a perfect 5-0 record. Oberg is just the second pitcher to post five wins without making a start since 1990. He also accomplished this feat in 2010 when he went 5-2.

BIG EAST Tournament... The 2012 BIG EAST Baseball Tournament will return to Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., for a fifth straight season, May 23-27.

MiLB Update... Currently 13 former Huskies are on Minor League rosters. Matt Barnes debuted for Salem (A Adv.) after being promoted. He struck out 12 in six innings and got the win on Saturday. Mike Olt of Frisco (AA) went on a 13-29 tear over the last eight games to lift his average to .287 with seven homers.

University of Connecticut Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Matt Barnes

Carson Cross

Billy Ferriter

Ryan Fuller

Tim Martin

LJ Mazzilli

Scott Oberg

Mike Olt

Brian Ward

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