TicketsMarch 1, 2010
CollegeBaseball360.com Release
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After finishing the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge with a 2-1 record, which included a seven-run come-from-behind win over Purdue and a 12-4 win over No. 13 Ohio State, junior Brian Sand (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and sophomore T.J. Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle) were named to the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge All-Tournament Team, presented by CollegeBaseball360.com.
Sand took home first-team honors, while Jones was a second-team all-tournament selection.
The selections include 11 first-teamers, 11 second-teamers and seven honorable-mention candidates.
Selections were based on statistics during the three games, in addition to clutch play, defensive contributions, team leadership and other intangibles. The honorees include at least one from all 20 participating teams, led by three from Louisville and two each from seven other teams (Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State, St. John's and Villanova).
In relief, Sand shut down Ohio State and did not surrender a hit in 5.0 innings of work. He inherited runners on first and second with no outs in the fifth inning after Ohio State scored two quick runs in the inning to make the score 8-4. Sand was helped out by junior Mikel Huston, who made a leaping catch at the wall to save a three-run home run, before inducing a 4-6-3 double play to end the scoring threat in the fifth. From that point on, Sand was untouchable and he picked up his first win of the season. The Cincinnati native forced the Buckeyes into three double plays.
Jones led the Bearcats offensively for the weekend hitting .462 (6-of-13), with five RBI. Jones started the weekend off with a three-hit performance against Penn State, before going 1-for-4 with two RBI in a comeback win over Purdue. In the weekend finale against Ohio State, Jones went 2-for-3, scored two runs, and drove in three in the win over the Buckeyes, while defensively he helped turn four of UC's five double plays.
The win over No. 13 Ohio State was the highest-ranked team the Bearcats have defeated since taking down No. 11 TCU, 12-4, on April 4, 2004.
The BIG EAST Conference won the Challenge 17-13, trailing 7-3 after Day 1 of competition. No. 11 Louisville and St. John's went 3-0 on the weekend, while Cincinnati, Connecticut and Villanova went 2-1 to help the BIG EAST claim the victory. The Big Ten won the inaugural Challenge last season, 15-9.
UC welcomes Youngstown State to Marge Schott Stadium March 5-7 for its first home series of the 2010 campaign. The series begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 5. Baseball season tickets are available by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX.