TicketsMoll, Borsa Lead Bearcats To 7-3 Win
Contact: Shawn Sell
4/5/2003
Aaron Moll went deep twice Saturday in UC's 7-3 win over Southern Miss. |
AMELIA, Ohio---Aaron Moll hit two home runs and B.J. Borsa threw his fourth complete game of the year, as the Cincinnati Bearcats (8-20, 3-8 Conference USA) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over No. 23 Southern Miss (22-9, 8-3 C-USA) on Saturday at Midland Field.
Moll crushed his first long ball of the day in the fourth inning, a three-run job that put the Bearcats ahed by a 4-2 count. His second bomb of the contest came in the eighth with one man on to give the Bearcats more breathing room at 7-2.
On the mound, Borsa was dominant, yielding seven base hits and two walks while striking out eight to improve to 3-4 on the season. After allowing a pair of runs in the top of the first, Borsa settled down, never really getting in serious trouble for the duration. Southern Miss got its last run with two outs in the ninth on a home run by Marc Maddox.
?I think the difference in the game today was the fact that B.J. Borsa was dominant all day,? said Bearcat head coach Brian Cleary. ?Southern Miss is an exceptionally talented team offensively and the way he held them down was impressive. I think you also have to give credit to Aaron Moll, hitting two home runs and coming up with some clutch hits. We have also continued to improve offensively swinging the bats.?
After the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a Brad Schutz throwing error, the Bearcats immediately responded getting their first run in the bottom of the frame. Schutz made up for his mishap in the field, plating Mark Muscenti with an RBI groundout.
The Bearcats took the lead in the fourth, doing all of the damage with two outs. After Schutz was hit by a pitch, Drew Saylor singled through the left side to put runners on first and second, bringing Moll to the rack. Moll jumped all over the first pitch he saw from Bob McCrory (5-1), going the other way to right center for his first home run of the day.
As Borsa rolled along, the UC offensive gave him another run to play with in the sixth when Steve Pickerell came up with a clutch two-out, pinch hit single that scored Moll. Cincinnati rounded out the scoring in the eighth, with Moll?s second jack of the day, a two-run shot, following a Saylor single.
Moll was the offensive start for Cincinnati, knocking in five and scoring three runs. Jake Smith added a 3 for 4 day, while Saylor was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs. Matt Shepherd accounted for two of the Golden Eagles seven hits.
The two teams will decide the series with a Sunday afternoon contest getting underway at 12:30 p.m. at Midland. Nate Bouldin will get the ball for the Bearcats, against Southern Miss? Stephen Castleman.