UB Baseball Readies For 2012 East Coast Conference Championship Tournament

Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport baseball team will be the number four seed in this weekend's 2012 East Coast Conference Championship Tournament hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas College on Thursday and Friday at Provident Bank Park in Pomona, N.Y. and on Saturday at Jack Kaiser Field on the campus of St. John's University in Queens, N.Y..  The Purple Knights, who won seven of their last games during the regular season, enter the ECC Tournament with a 16-19 overall record.  The winner of the double-elimination, East Coast Conference Baseball Championship Tournament receives and automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Division II Championship which will begin the following week.  UB is looking for its first-ever trip the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament.

UB opens play in the East Coast Conference Championship at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 when they face the number one-seed and host St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans.  Following the UB-STAC game, number two seeded Dowling College takes on number three seed, C.W. Post.

Seniors Matt Ranaudo (Milford, Conn.) and Ryan Barba (Stratford, Conn.) lead the Purple Knights in batting average so far this season, as Ranaudo has a .370 average and Barba is hitting at a .340 clip.  Sophomore John Ascenzia (West Haven, Conn.) is also have a fine season at the plate with a .304 batting average.

Senior Eric Schlitter (Guilford, Conn.) leads UB in runs batted in with 21, and junior Mike Olszyk (Hamden, Conn.) is the team leader in home runs with two.

On the mound, senior Nick Vautrin (S. Hadley, Mass.) and junior Matt Wing (Brookville, Ontario, Canada) lead Bridgeport in wins with four apiece.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2012 ECC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT INFORMATION PAGE

2012 ECC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 10 @ Provident Bank Park

Time                        Game No.               Match-up

1 p.m.                       Game 1                   No. 4 Bridgeport vs. No. 1 St. Thomas Aquinas

4 p.m.                       Game 2                   No. 3 C.W. Post vs. No. 2 Dowling

Friday, May 11 @ Provident Bank Park

Time                        Game No.               Match-up

9 a.m.                       Game 3                   Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2

12 Noon                   Game 4                   Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

3 p.m.                       Game 5                   Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4

Saturday, May 12 @ Jack Kaiser Field, St. John's University

Time                        Game No.               Match-up

12 Noon                   Game 6                   Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4

If necessary              Game 7                   Game 6 participants (if Game 5 winner wins Game 6)

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO PROVIDENT BANK PARK

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO JACK KAISER FIELD AT ST. JOHN'S