Big Ten Wins Inaugural Big East-Big Ten Challenge

Conference places nine players on All-Tournament team.

Penn State's Mike Deese was named to the Big East-Big Ten Challenge All-Tournament team.

Penn State's Mike Deese was named to the Big East-Big Ten Challenge All-Tournament team.

Feb. 23, 2009

The Big Ten Conference won the inaugural Big East-Big Ten Challenge by taking 15 of the 24 games played between the two conferences. The Challenge was held Feb. 20-22 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Big Ten jumped out to a 5-3 lead on Day 1 with wins from Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Ohio State and Purdue. The Spartans won the first game of the Challenge, knocking off Connecticut, 4-2. The Wolverines followed with a 6-5 victory against South Florida on a walk-off hit by senior Kenny Fellows. The Buckeyes then shut out Notre Dame, 2-0, while the Boilermakers outlasted Cincinnati, 11-10, and the Wildcats took down Georgetown, 5-3. Also on Friday, Illinois defeated Iowa, 8-3, in an intraconference matchup.

The Big Ten and Big East split Saturday’s eight-game interconference schedule with wins from Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State. The Hoosiers’ first win of the season came in a 12-4 decision over Georgetown, while the Wolverines improved to 2-0 with a 6-1 triumph over Cincinnati. The Golden Gophers picked up a 5-4 win over West Virginia, and the Buckeyes took down Connecticut, 6-4. Michigan also won a non-challenge game over Purdue, 4-3 in 10 innings, while Penn State defeated Northwestern, 9-1.

On the final day of the event, the Big Ten won six of eight games to put the conference’s final win total at 15. Illinois out-slugged West Virginia, 17-10, while Indiana bested South Florida, 9-7. Michigan improved to 4-0 on the year with a 4-2 win over St. John’s, while Ohio State out-lasted Cincinnati, 6-5, and Penn State earned a 6-1 win over Seton Hall. In an intraconference contest, Minnesota recorded a 7-2 win over Michigan State.

At the conclusion of the event, nine Big Ten players were named to the All-Tournament team by CollegeBaseball360.com, while 11 more received honorable mention recognition. The complete All-Tournament team can be found below.

2009 Big East/Big Ten Challenge All-Tournament Team (presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
C - Denny Benedetti (St. John's, Sr.)
C - Josh Phegley (Indiana, Jr.)
SS - Brandon Wikoff (Illinois, Jr.)
3B - Brian Hopkins (St. John's, So.)
LF - Justin Riddell (Cincinnati, Jr.)
CF - Brian Kemp (St. John's, Jr.)
CF - Tommy Lee (Georgetown, Sr.)
CF - Jamel Scott (Cincinnati, Jr.)
CF - Matt Smedberg (Seton Hall, Sr.)
DH -Mike Deese (Penn State, Sr.)
DH -Ryan Dew (Ohio State, Jr.)
Starting Pitcher - Sean Black (Seton Hall, RHP, Jr.)
Starting Pitcher - Eric Katzman (Michigan, LHP, Jr.)
Starting Pitcher - T.J. Macy (Penn State, RHP, Sr.)
Starting Pitcher - Alex Wimmers (Ohio State, RHP, So.)
Relief Pitcher - Tyler Burgoon (Michigan, RHP, So.)
Relief Pitcher - Drew Rucinski (Ohio State, RHP, So.)
Utility Player - Justin Ellis (West Virginia, DH/RHP, So.)
 
2009 Big East/Big Ten Challenge Honorable Mention All-Tournament Team (presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
1B -Tim Morris (St. John's, Jr.)
2B - Vince Belnome (West Virginia, Jr.)
SS - Jedd Gyorko (West Virginia, So.)
SS - Mike Olt (Connecticut, So.)
3B - Chris Roberts (Michigan State, Jr.)
CF - Eric Decker (Minnesota, Jr.)
CF - Golden Tate (Notre Dame, So.)
RF - Alex Jaffe (Purdue, Sr.)
RF - Michael Kvasnicka (Minnesota, So.)
RF -Nick Urban (Michigan, Sr.)
DH - Pete Cappetta (Illinois, So.)
DH - Alex Dickerson (Indiana, Fr.)
DH - Stephen Hunt (South Florida, So.)
DH - Jake McLouth (Michigan, Fr.)
Starting Pitcher - Andrew Armstrong (Ohio State, LHP, So.)
Starting Pitcher - Joe DiRocco (Seton Hall, RHP, So.)
Starting Pitcher - Eric Jokisch (Northwestern, LHP, So.)
Starting Pitcher - Derrick Stultz (South Florida, RHP, So.)
Utility Player - Wes Freie (Iowa, DH/RHP, Sr.)