TicketsBearcats Snap Losing Streak With 4-1 Win
Contact: Shawn Sell
3/26/2003
Mike Foley picked up the first win of his collegiate career Wednesday night. |
RICHMOND, Va.---Mike Foley picked up the first win of his collegiate career as Cincinnati snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over Virginia Commonwealth at a soggy The Diamond in Richmond. The Bearcats improve to 7-15 on the season, while VCU falls to 20-7.
Foley went 6.1 innings on the mound, surrendering just an unearned run and five hits, while striking out five. Nate Bouldin took over for Foley, closing out the win to pick up his first save of the season and the seventh of his career to move him into a tie for sixth place on UC?s all-time list.
Junior OF Justin Niefer got the Bearcats on the scoreboard, sparking a three-run rally with an RBI double. With one out, Mark Muscenti walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, setting up Niefer?s extra base knock. With Brad Schutz at the plate, Niefer broke for third base, easily stealing the base and advancing home when catcher Jeff Parrish?s throw sailed into leftfield.
With two runs already on the board, Schutz drew a walk from VCU starter and loser Jon Link (1-1) and took much the same route as Niefer to plate the inning?s third run. Like Niefer, Schutz took off for second on a stolen base attempt and advanced to third when Parrish?s throw was again errant. Schutz would later score on a passed ball.
Cincinnati struck for another run an inning later when catcher Steve Pickerell hit a bomb to left centerfield that cleared the fence for his first home run as a Bearcat.
Meanwhile, Foley was continuing to role on the mound in his first collegiate start. After Kevin Faries singled and was thrown out trying to steal for the inning?s second out, VCU?s Eric Latura and Joe Meador singled to put two runners on with two outs. But Foley stuck out Anthony Granato swinging to get out of the jam. He avoided another jam in the fifth with a runner on second and two out, getting Latura to look at strike three on a 3-2 count.
The Bearcats had a chance to pour on more runs in the seventh, loading the bases with one out after an Erik Eitel single and walks to Niefer and Schutz. But VCU?s Tommy Edelblut induced an inning ending double play by Brad Dorrmann to thwart the effort.
Foley?s time on the hill came to an end in the sixth, when he was spelled by Bouldin with two runners on base and only one out. Bouldin got pinch hitter Justin Mattison to hit into a fielder?s choice for the first out, but Latura came through with an RBI single up the middle to score VCU?s first run. Bouldin got out of the tough spot, though when Joe Meador hit into an inning-ending fielder?s choice.
Drew Saylor went 2 for 4 to lead Cincinnati, while Schutz also found his way to base in all four plate appearances, courtesy of a first inning double and three walks.
The Bearcats return to Spring Break action this weekend, resuming Conference USA play with a trip to East Carolina. The first game is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. on Friday evening.