March 21, 2006
Box Score
Bradenton, Fla.- Senior righthander Ryan Martin pitched six stellar innings, and the UIC offense scored six runs in the final four frames to defeat reigning Big Ten Tournament champion Ohio State, 7-1, in the Flames' spring trip finale at IMG Academy in Bradenton.
The victory gave UIC (6-10) its third win in the last four games and snapped Ohio State's six-game winning streak, dropping the Buckeyes to 8-5.
Martin gave up just one run, holding the Buckeyes scoreless in his final five innings of work, and struck out four to improve his record to 2-1.
Freshman Adam Worthington pitched the final three innings, allowing just two hits while fanning two, to pick up his second save of the year.
Centerfielder Larry Gempp Jr. went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while catcher Justin Johnson went 3-for-5 with an RBI.
Nick Rainwater drove in two runs, going 2-for-4 at the dish.
Ohio State starter Cory Luebke was charged with the loss.
UIC picked up an early lead with a run in the top of the first. Gempp bunted for a single and advanced to second on Ronnie Bourquin's throwing error. After advancing to third on a groundout, Gempp scored on Johnson's RBI single to put the Flames up 1-0.
Ohio State answered back in the bottom half of the inning, as Jacob Howell scored on a wild pitch by Martin to knot the game.
But that's all Ohio State would get, as Martin gave up only two singles in his final five innings.
Tied at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the game turned to the Flames' favor. Mark Hallberg led off with a walk and moved to second on Johnson's groundout. With two outs, Brett Schaefer smacked a double to right field to drive in Hallberg and give UIC a one-run lead.
UIC added another run in the seventh, as Gempp scored on a single by Hallberg to make it a 3-1 advantage.
The Flames broke it open with three runs in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded, Rainwater drove in two runs on a single to left center field off of OSU reliever Rory Meister. Gempp then laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Bryan Nolte from third.
UIC capped the scoring with an RBI double from pinch hitter Ted Rosinski that scored Jon Brown from second.
The Flames return to Chicago to play their home opener this Friday against Horizon League rival UW-Milwaukee at 2:05 p.m. at Les Miller Field.
