Bearcats No. 7 seed for tourney

May 21, 2006

PROVIDENCE, R.I.---University of Cincinnati freshman Steve Blevins has been named the BIG EAST Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance over the weekend against Georgetown. In addition, Blevins and his Bearcat teammates will compete in the 2006 BIG EAST Tournament this week in Clearwater, Fla.

Cincinnati has earned the No. 7 seed for the championship event and will face second-seeded Connecticut on Tuesday (May 23) at 1 p.m. The tournament is being held at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater.

Against the Red Storm, Blevins was brilliant, putting together a three-hit shutout against one of the nation's top hitting teams. His performance helped UC clinch a berth in the BIG EAST Tournament. In the outing, Blevins allowed just two walks, while matching his career-high with six stikeouts. This marks the second time this year Blevins has won the award.

Blevins is one of two Bearcat hurlers to earn BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors, joining Glen Simon who was tabbed on Feb. 20. Teammates Logan Parker (March 20) and Jon DeLuca (April 3) have also been honored this season by the BIG EAST as Conference Players of the Week.

The pitching match-up for UC and Connecticut has already been set with the Bearcats going with freshman lefty Dan Osterbrock. UConn will counter with Tim Norton, the BIG EAST leader in ERA and opponents batting average.

It has been a very good season for the Bearcats. They played well against St. John's this weekend, taking the first 2 games. Of course I picked yesterday's game to attend in person, when St. John's killed UC pitching with 14 runs.

It will be fun following the BE baseball tourney this week.