TicketsBorsa Sets Pitching Record In 10-3 UC Win
Contact: Shawn Sell
4/18/2003
B.J. Borsa tied the UC career record for wins in Friday's 10-3 victory over South Florida. |
TAMPA, Fla.---The Cincinnati Bearcats (11-25, 5-11 Conference USA) broke open a close game with a five-run eighth inning that gave B.J. Borsa a share of the school record for career wins, topping South Florida (24-14, 8-6 C-USA) 10-3 on Friday night at Red McEwen Field.
Jake Smith registered the big hit of the inning, crushing a three-run homer to right field that gave the Bearcats a 7-3 edge. Justin Niefer followed two batters later with a run-scoring single and Jon DeLuca finished off the frame with an RBI groundout.
On the mound, Borsa was sensational, leaving after eight innings of three run, five-hit baseball, with seven strikeouts, to improve to 4-5 on the year. The milestone win gives Borsa 19 for his career and move him into a tie atop of the UC career list with Curtus Moak and Tim Burman. Borsa was never in serious trouble as he allowed single runs in the second, third and seventh, the first coming courtesy of a Devin Ivany home run. The Bulls got their second run on a Jeff Baisley RBI single and rounded out the scoring in the seventh when Scott Rachlin hit a sacrifice fly to score Travis Brown after the latter singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on an errant Borsa pickoff attempt.
?I thought tonight was the game that we have been on the verge of so many times this year,? said Bearcat head coach Brian Cleary. ?We were excellent offensively and good defensively, the three errors were misleading. I think B.J.?s outing stands on its own. He was dominating against a very good offensive team. I think we finally played the game we are capable of.?
At the plate, the Cincinnati offensive machine was in full force, as all nine starters recorded at least one hit and the Bearcats totaled 14. The Bearcats started the contest off right plating a pair in the first off starter and losing pitcher David Uhl (5-3). After Niefer and DeLuca singles and a stolen base by DeLuca, Aaron Moll came through with a clutch, two-run single to open the scoring. The Bearcats had a chance for more, but Moll was thrown out trying to steal second, prior to Drew Saylor?s double.
After the Bulls had tied the game at two in the third, the Bearcats surged back into the lead, thanks to some aggressive base running by Steve Pickerell. Pickerell was on third with one out after a lead off double, when Smith chopped a grounder to third. Pickerell broke for the plate and USF third baseman Baisley?s throw was high, leaving all hands safe.
In addition to the monster eighth inning, the Bearcats added single runs in the sixth and ninth innings. Brad Schutz picked up his team-best 23rd RBI with a run-scoring fielder?s choice in the sixth, while Pickerell added his team-leading sixth homer, a solo shot in the ninth.
Pickerell led Cincinnati with three hits, missing the cycle by just a triple, while Niefer, Saylor and Smith all added a pair of knocks.
The same two teams return to action Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. with Cincinnati?s Nate Bouldin facing South Florida?s David Austen.