University of Connecticut Athletics
Olt Lifts Huskies Past No. 17 Ohio State 5-4
3/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 14, 2010
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The UConn baseball team (7-4) used a two-run sixth inning, led by Mike Olt's fourth home run of the year, to secure a 5-4 victory over No. 17 Ohio State (8-4) in the Huskies' final game of the 2010 Arby's Classic in Knoxville, Tenn.
With the score knotted at two heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Olt led off with his 25th career home run to give UConn a 3-2 advantage before the Huskies' tallied another run to extend their lead. Junior Mike Nemeth followed Olt with his 16th hit of the season, with a single through the right side of the infield before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman LJ Mazzilli. Nemeth then scored an unearned run on a Buckeyes' throwing error after a base hit by redshirt freshman Billy Ferriter.
Despite allowing two more runs to the Buckeyes in the top of the seventh and ninth, UConn added another run in the seventh to clinch the victory. After hitting his second double of the season down the left field line, LePage scored the Huskies' fifth run of the contest on an RBI single by George Springer, marking the sophomore's team-leading 14th RBI of the year.
Sophomore Matt Barnes had a stellar outing on the hill against the nationally-ranked Buckeyes, as he picked up his second win of the season to improve to 2-0 on the year. Barnes went 6.1 innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs on the afternoon. The sophomore came out of the game after two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning. Classmate Scott Oberg came into the game and gave up a sacrifice fly to Ohio State's Cory Kovanda before getting Dan Burkhart to ground out to first base to end the inning as the Huskies led 5-3.
Sophomore Kevin Vance came into the game in the ninth for the Huskies after Oberg went 1.2 innings, allowing one hit, while striking out two. Vance allowed three hits and one run in the ninth before ending the game on a ground out to second base. Ohio State's Brett McKinney earned the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year as he allowed 10 hits and five runs in six innings of work.
For the third-straight game, Olt recorded a homer for the Huskies, finishing the game 2-for-4 with one RBI. Nemeth finished the afternoon 2-for-2 with one RBI and two walks, while both LePage and Springer added two hits and one run scored.
UConn returns to Storrs this week after its spring break trip and will face Boston College in its home-opener on Tuesday, March 16 at J.O. Christian Field. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.