TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball program posted a big win on Sunday afternoon, beating Memphis 8-7 for the series sweep.
The three-game series sweep was the first since UC completed the feat against Northwestern on March 21, 2016. Even more impressive, the American Athletic Conference series sweep is the first conference sweep for the Bearcats since they took down Villanova April 21-22, 2011.
At the completion of UC's game, the Bearcats lead the conference in wins with six and are tied for first in win percentage through the first three weeks of AAC play.
// NOTABLES
• Cincinnati improves to 15-14 on the year and 6-3 in AAC play
• Memphis drops to 9-23 and 1-8
• A.J. Bumpass had two triples in the game, the first Bearcat to do so since Treg Haberkorn had two three-baggers on March 21, 2016
• With a single in his first at-bat, Manny Rodriguez increased his reach base safely streak to 31 games
• Joey Thomas smashed the second homerun of his career, a three-run shot, and totaled two hits and four RBI on the day
• Eric Santiago also contributed with two hits and a RBI
• Cam Alldred went 5.0 innings in the start for the win. He gave up five hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks while striking out seven
• A.J. Kullman threw the next 3.0 innings with one run, one hit and one walk
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• The Bearcats wasted no time taking the lead. Thomas and Rodriguez hit back-to-back singles before Bumpass tripled them both in
Bottom of the 2nd
• Three more runs were tacked on in the next frame. With two outs, Haberkorn was hit by a pitch, Kyle Mottice reached on a bunt single and Thomas cleared the bases with a blast over the left field wall
Bottom of the 4th
• It became a 6-0 game when Haberkorn singled and scored later after Mottice singled and Thomas reached on a fielder's choice
Top of the 5th
• Memphis broke through in the fifth with three runs thanks in part to messy defense by UC. A double, single and error started the scoring spree. Another error and single allowed a second run to score. The third run came by way of a full-count, bases-loaded walk
Bottom of the 6th
• Eric Santiago smacked a homerun to left field to add a run to the Bearcats' total, making it a 7-3 ball game
Top of the 8th
• The Tigers got a run back on a triple and ground out
Bottom of the 8th
• UC's final run came when Cole Murphy singled, Santiago singled and Haberkorn was hit to load the bases. Mottice earned a walk and RBI to score Murphy
Top of the 9th
• Memphis made things interesting with a three-run homerun in the final frame to make it a one-run game
// UP NEXT
• The Bearcats will take part in the Joe Nuxhall Classic this Tuesday and Wednesday, hosted by Miami in Oxford
• UC returns home on Wednesday, April 18 to face Xavier at 6:30 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)
The three-game series sweep was the first since UC completed the feat against Northwestern on March 21, 2016. Even more impressive, the American Athletic Conference series sweep is the first conference sweep for the Bearcats since they took down Villanova April 21-22, 2011.
At the completion of UC's game, the Bearcats lead the conference in wins with six and are tied for first in win percentage through the first three weeks of AAC play.
// NOTABLES
• Cincinnati improves to 15-14 on the year and 6-3 in AAC play
• Memphis drops to 9-23 and 1-8
• A.J. Bumpass had two triples in the game, the first Bearcat to do so since Treg Haberkorn had two three-baggers on March 21, 2016
• With a single in his first at-bat, Manny Rodriguez increased his reach base safely streak to 31 games
• Joey Thomas smashed the second homerun of his career, a three-run shot, and totaled two hits and four RBI on the day
• Eric Santiago also contributed with two hits and a RBI
• Cam Alldred went 5.0 innings in the start for the win. He gave up five hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks while striking out seven
• A.J. Kullman threw the next 3.0 innings with one run, one hit and one walk
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• The Bearcats wasted no time taking the lead. Thomas and Rodriguez hit back-to-back singles before Bumpass tripled them both in
Bottom of the 2nd
• Three more runs were tacked on in the next frame. With two outs, Haberkorn was hit by a pitch, Kyle Mottice reached on a bunt single and Thomas cleared the bases with a blast over the left field wall
Bottom of the 4th
• It became a 6-0 game when Haberkorn singled and scored later after Mottice singled and Thomas reached on a fielder's choice
Top of the 5th
• Memphis broke through in the fifth with three runs thanks in part to messy defense by UC. A double, single and error started the scoring spree. Another error and single allowed a second run to score. The third run came by way of a full-count, bases-loaded walk
Bottom of the 6th
• Eric Santiago smacked a homerun to left field to add a run to the Bearcats' total, making it a 7-3 ball game
Top of the 8th
• The Tigers got a run back on a triple and ground out
Bottom of the 8th
• UC's final run came when Cole Murphy singled, Santiago singled and Haberkorn was hit to load the bases. Mottice earned a walk and RBI to score Murphy
Top of the 9th
• Memphis made things interesting with a three-run homerun in the final frame to make it a one-run game
// UP NEXT
• The Bearcats will take part in the Joe Nuxhall Classic this Tuesday and Wednesday, hosted by Miami in Oxford
• UC returns home on Wednesday, April 18 to face Xavier at 6:30 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)