Spring Break
Rhode Island Rivalry Continued
Baseball
Mike Northup
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: Sports
Meeting No. 178 between the UConn and Rhode Island baseball teams on April 9 was a memorable back-and-forth match-up that the Huskies won 11-7 thanks to a big day at the plate and from the bullpen. According to the UConn head coach Jim Penders, meeting No. 179 should be just as competitive between the two familiar foes.
Lefthander Elliot Glynn (1-2, 5.45 ERA) will start things off on the mound for UConn (21-21) today as the Huskies try to go 2-0 against the Rams (20-19-1) this year. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at URI's Bill Beck Field.A win would make it the first season-sweep of URI since the 2006 season, when UConn beat the Rams in both games of a doubleheader at J.O. Christian Field.
This year, Glynn has been most successful when he has good command of his pitches. In Glynn's last outing, a no-decision in a 4-3 win against Hartford, he threw a solid six innings of three-run ball, while striking out five.
He faced just three batters over the minimum in that game to help keep the Huskies in contention for the eventual come-from-behind win.
"His whole thing is just if he can get ahead and work ahead," Penders said. "He doesn't do that all the time, but if he can get ahead with his fastball and he's got a pretty good breaking ball he can command the strike zone. Hopefully we can score enough runs behind him."
Despite the quality pitches in his arsenal, Glynn's biggest advantage comes from his demeanor on the field Penders said.
"His biggest attribute is that he's a competitor and he battles, even if he doesn't have his best stuff," Penders said. "He's going to put forth a great effort and for a freshman, I've got an awful lot of confidence in him."
While it has been a struggle for the Huskies lately on the diamond, the team taking the mantra of "you're only as good as your last game" to heart, according to Penders, who wants them focusing on the road ahead instead of what got them to this point in the season.
Lefthander Elliot Glynn (1-2, 5.45 ERA) will start things off on the mound for UConn (21-21) today as the Huskies try to go 2-0 against the Rams (20-19-1) this year. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at URI's Bill Beck Field.A win would make it the first season-sweep of URI since the 2006 season, when UConn beat the Rams in both games of a doubleheader at J.O. Christian Field.
This year, Glynn has been most successful when he has good command of his pitches. In Glynn's last outing, a no-decision in a 4-3 win against Hartford, he threw a solid six innings of three-run ball, while striking out five.
He faced just three batters over the minimum in that game to help keep the Huskies in contention for the eventual come-from-behind win.
"His whole thing is just if he can get ahead and work ahead," Penders said. "He doesn't do that all the time, but if he can get ahead with his fastball and he's got a pretty good breaking ball he can command the strike zone. Hopefully we can score enough runs behind him."
Despite the quality pitches in his arsenal, Glynn's biggest advantage comes from his demeanor on the field Penders said.
"His biggest attribute is that he's a competitor and he battles, even if he doesn't have his best stuff," Penders said. "He's going to put forth a great effort and for a freshman, I've got an awful lot of confidence in him."
While it has been a struggle for the Huskies lately on the diamond, the team taking the mantra of "you're only as good as your last game" to heart, according to Penders, who wants them focusing on the road ahead instead of what got them to this point in the season.
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