Big 10 - Big East Challenge (preview and official thread)

[JCOSU86]

Official Site Big 10 - Big East Preview

Friday Feb 20th @ Dunedin, FL vs Notre Dame

The Buckeyes kick off their 2009 baseball season with the Big 10 - Big East Challenge in Florida from Feb 20th through the 28th. First up is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish are coming off a 2008 season that saw them go 33-22-1. While decent, they did end up losing their last 8 games, 6 in the regular season and both games in the Big East tournament. ND returns 6 position players and 10 pitchers from last year's team. The Irish are picked to finish 3rd in the Big East this year.

Saturday Feb 21st @ Clearwater, FL vs Connecticut (change from St. Petersburg)

The Big 10 - Big East Challenge continues with a game vs the Huskies of the University of Connecticut. UConn was picked to finish 6th in the Preseason Writer's Poll of the Big East. The Huskies finished 26-27 last year.

Sunday Feb 22nd @ Tampa, FL vs Cincinnati (change from St. Petersburg)

The Buckeyes' participation in the Big 10 - Big East Challenge concludes with a game against in-state rival Cincinnati. The Buckeyes have had the better of the Bearcats in the series' history going 64-20. Bob Todd has coached Ohio State to a 8-2 record against UC. The Bearcats are picked to finish 5th in the Big East this year.

[JCOSU86]

BASE: Season Opens vs. Notre Dame, UConn and Cincinnati - The Ohio State Buckeyes Official Athletics Site - OhioStateBuckeyes.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State opens its 126th season of baseball by participating in the inaugural BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge, sponsored by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission of Florida. Ohio State plays Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, to open its season and follows that with games Saturday and Sunday against Connecticut and Cincinnati, respectively.


All 10 of the Big Ten?s baseball-playing institutions will compete. Eight BIG EAST representatives will participate: South Florida, Connecticut, Georgetown, St. John?s, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Cincinnati and Notre Dame.


Eight games will be played daily between the two conferences along with one contest between two Big Ten schools. Games will be played in the various major league spring training venues in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, including Bright House Field, Dunedin Stadium and Progress Energy Park/Al Lang Field.


For complete schedule of games, stadium locations and directions, visit bigeastbigtenchallenge.com or click on the above link.

Ohio State Baseball This Week

Ohio State (30-26, 15-15 Big Ten)
at the


BIG EAST-BIG TEN CHALLENGE

Game 1: vs. Notre Dame
(33-21-1; 16-10 BIG EAST in 2008)
Friday, Feb. 20 - 7 p.m.
Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin, Fla.

Game 2: vs. Connecticut
(27-28; 11-16 BIG EAST in 2008)
Saturday, Feb. 21 - 4 p.m.
Jack Russell Stadium, Clearwater, Fla.

Game 3: vs. Cincinnati
(39-20; 19-8 BIG EAST in 2008)
Sunday, Feb. 22 - 10 a.m.
Red McEwen Field, Tampa, Fla.

HOME and AWAY DESIGNATIONS
Ohio State will be the home team in the games vs. Notre Dame and Cincinnati and it will be the visitor vs. Connecticut.

OHIO STATE vs. NOTRE DAME
In its opening game of the season, Ohio State and Notre Dame meet for the 44th time overall and the first time since a June 2002 NCAA regional game in South Bend, Ind., that Notre Dame won, 9-6. The series between the schools dates back to 1902, with the Fighting Irish leading, 26-18.

OHIO STATE vs. UCONN
The game Saturday at 4 p.m. will mark only the sixth meeting between the two schools, with the Bucks leading the series, 4-2. Last year, the two teams met in West Palm Beach, Fla., with Ohio State winning, 6-4. The series dates to 1970 with all six games played in the state of Florida. Ohio State has won three consecutive over UCONN. The teams will meet next week as well: at the Kennel Club Classic at the University of North Florida.

OHIO STATE vs. CINCINNATI
The final game for Ohio State in the BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge pits the Buckeyes against in-state rival Cincinnati for the first time since the 2003 season. The series is one of the oldest on record for Ohio State, dating back to 1891. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 64-20-2. Coach Bob Todd?s Buckeyes are 8-2 vs. UC and have won six consecutive games. During that streak, Ohio State has outscored UC, 82-22, including a 17-0 win in the last meeting (2003 season).

[JCOSU86]

Tonight's first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 pm EST. I believe that Wolosiansky is getting the start, but can't confirm. He and super-sub Ben Toussant discuss the upcoming season here.


GO BUCKS! BEAT NOTRE DAME!!

[CleveBucks]

Any online radio for this weekend?

[coastalbuck]

2-0 Bucks, a great way to start the season Official site link

Sophomore pitchers Alex Wimmers and Drew Rucinski combined for the opening day shutout by striking out 10 Irish while scattering six hits with just three walks.

[JCOSU86]

Bucks take game 2 of Big 10 - Big East Challenge


CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ohio State broke open a tight game with four runs in the eighth inning to build a 6-0 lead and then held on to defeat UConn, 6-4, Saturday at Jack Russell Stadium. Ohio State is 2-0 in the BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge while UConn drops to 0-2.
Heroes for the Buckeyes were sophomore pitcher Andrew Armstrong and juniors Brian DeLucia and Zach Hurley. Ryan Dew had four hits and scored twice. Cory Rupert had a pair of hits and two runs scored.


Continued...

[Best Buckeye]

Way to go Bucks, nice win for us and the B10.

[coastalbuck]

3-0 Great start Bucks. Official site link

TAMPA, Fla. ? Led by two home runs and four runs batted in from junior third baseman Brian DeLucia, Ohio State defeated Cincinnati, 6-5, Sunday at Red McEwen Field to complete play in the BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge with a 3-0 record. UC drops to 0-3 with losses to Purdue, Michigan and the Buckeyes.

[BuckeyeStu]

The Big Ten won the overall challenged by taking 15 of the 24 overall games.

[BretGoBlue]

Nice to see the Big 10 win this thing. I'm thinking Michigan and Ohio State are going to battle for the regular season title this season, which is just the way it should be. Ohio State's got a lot of star power back from last season, and Michigan's a young club, but looks promising with both teams going 3-0 in the opening weekend. Wonder if Minnesota gets it turned back around this season. It was bizarre seeing them so far down this past year.

[Bestbuck36]

Brilliant start to the season! It couldnt have been scripted better. The thing I liked seeing the most is some Buckeye power coming from the lineup for the first time in years. Delucia will have to keep that up for the Bucks to score alot of runs this year. Great start.