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Baseball Upsets No. 23 Ohio State, 3-2
March 24, 2002 Homestead, Florida - Sophomore left fielder Mike Hughes' (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Fremd) two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth-inning proved to be the difference as the Flames earned a 3-2 victory over No. 23 Ohio State on Sunday morning at the Homestead Sports Complex. With the victory, UIC improves to 13-3 on the season, while Ohio State falls to 12-3-1. Senior southpaw Wes Gilliam (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood) scattered five hits over seven innings and struck out nine Buckeyes to keep his record spotless at 3-0. Freshman Ryan Gehring (Burlington, Wis./Burlington Central Catholic) tossed the final two innings and struck out two batters to earn his first career save. Sophomore first baseman Mike Lorenzo (Lockport, Ill./Providence) got things started for UIC in the fifth inning with an infield single. Nelson Gord (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove) reached base on a throwing error by Ohio State third baseman Paul Farinacci on his sacrfice bunt attempt. Freshman Bryan Russo (Davie, Fla./American Heritage) forced Lorenzo at third base and senior John Rosner (Ottawa, Ill./Marquette) flew out to center field to put runners at first and second with two outs for sophomore Mike Bruszer (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield). Gord and Russo, however, advanced a base when catcher Joe Wilkins' pickoff attempt of Gord at second base, sailed into centerfield.
Bruszer walked to set the stage for Hughes' two-out, two-run single to right field. Senior Curtis Granderson (Lynwood, Ill./T.F. South) added a crucial insurance run with a RBI single to right field that plated Bruszer to give the Flames a 3-1 lead.
Gehring relieved Gilliam in the eighth inning and retired the first batter he faced. The rookie lefthander, however, allowed three consecutive singles that cut the UIC lead to 3-2. Gehring regained his composure and struck out Wilkins and retired Christian Snively on a fly ball to end the Ohio State threat. UIC will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon as they will travel to Indiana and take on the Valparaiso Crusaders at 2:00 PM. |
