Spring Break
Seven-day, six-game Florida trip to test UConn
Kevin Vellturo
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
After back-to-back weekends of games in Florida, the baseball team heads to the Sunshine State for spring break for the RussMatt Invitational.
UConn (3-3) will play six games in a seven-day stretch, including games against Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky and Bucknell. Coach Jim Penders enjoys this part of the schedule because it gives him an idea of how his team will handle a grueling stretch later in the season.
"I always look forward to this part of the season because it tells you a lot about the team," Penders said. "We get to see how our pitching is and we can slide in a fourth outfielder and see how people do."
Though this season is not as grueling as seasons past, it is still as effective.
"Six games in seven days isn't the worst we've had," Penders said. "Once, we had eight or nine in seven days, so it isn't quite as back-breaking."
The Huskies are coming off a 2-1 weekend, picking up wins against George Mason and North Florida before falling to Ohio State for the second time this season in an unusual 21-14 game. Penders is not convinced that the Buckeyes are that much better than them, especially after their most recent game.
"I did not feel like they outplayed us, especially on Sunday," Penders said. "That was not really a baseball game; the wind was blowing 50 miles per hour and a routine fly ball turned into a home run."
That wind resulted in seven Ohio State home runs and included five in one inning.
Although that game did not tell Penders much about his team, the two wins were a different story.
"We got two quality wins against two very good teams," Penders said. "Our pitching did a good job and I'm encouraged by that."
One such performance was turned in by sophomore Elliot Glynn. The south paw pitched seven strong innings, striking out two in the process, to earn his first win of the season.
John Folino also had a good start the day before against George Mason. Folino threw six strong innings - fanning seven batters in the process while only walking three.
Sophomore shortstop Mike Olt has picked up where he left off last season offensively batting .542 in the young season with two home runs and eight RBIs. Matt Burnett has also begun the year on an offensive tear in the early season batting .400 with a home run of his own.
Along with, Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky and Bucknell, the RussMatt Invitational is playing host to Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and in-state rival Sacred Heart. Of the six teams the Huskies are playing, Eastern Kentucky comes in with the best record at 3-3.
The Eastern Kentucky Colonels have some quality games on their schedule as well, downing Big East foe Louisville 7-5 earlier this week and losing to Kentucky on a walk-off home run.
The Huskies begin play Sunday and play through the entire week, finishing with Bowling Green the following Saturday.
UConn (3-3) will play six games in a seven-day stretch, including games against Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky and Bucknell. Coach Jim Penders enjoys this part of the schedule because it gives him an idea of how his team will handle a grueling stretch later in the season.
"I always look forward to this part of the season because it tells you a lot about the team," Penders said. "We get to see how our pitching is and we can slide in a fourth outfielder and see how people do."
Though this season is not as grueling as seasons past, it is still as effective.
"Six games in seven days isn't the worst we've had," Penders said. "Once, we had eight or nine in seven days, so it isn't quite as back-breaking."
The Huskies are coming off a 2-1 weekend, picking up wins against George Mason and North Florida before falling to Ohio State for the second time this season in an unusual 21-14 game. Penders is not convinced that the Buckeyes are that much better than them, especially after their most recent game.
"I did not feel like they outplayed us, especially on Sunday," Penders said. "That was not really a baseball game; the wind was blowing 50 miles per hour and a routine fly ball turned into a home run."
That wind resulted in seven Ohio State home runs and included five in one inning.
Although that game did not tell Penders much about his team, the two wins were a different story.
"We got two quality wins against two very good teams," Penders said. "Our pitching did a good job and I'm encouraged by that."
One such performance was turned in by sophomore Elliot Glynn. The south paw pitched seven strong innings, striking out two in the process, to earn his first win of the season.
John Folino also had a good start the day before against George Mason. Folino threw six strong innings - fanning seven batters in the process while only walking three.
Sophomore shortstop Mike Olt has picked up where he left off last season offensively batting .542 in the young season with two home runs and eight RBIs. Matt Burnett has also begun the year on an offensive tear in the early season batting .400 with a home run of his own.
Along with, Bowling Green, Eastern Kentucky and Bucknell, the RussMatt Invitational is playing host to Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and in-state rival Sacred Heart. Of the six teams the Huskies are playing, Eastern Kentucky comes in with the best record at 3-3.
The Eastern Kentucky Colonels have some quality games on their schedule as well, downing Big East foe Louisville 7-5 earlier this week and losing to Kentucky on a walk-off home run.
The Huskies begin play Sunday and play through the entire week, finishing with Bowling Green the following Saturday.
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