TicketsBearcats Come Up Short At Miami, 14-7
UC drops fifth straight
Contact: Shawn Sell
3/23/2004
Pat LeMasters had three RBI, including his first home run as a Bearcat Tuesday at Miami (OH). |
OXFORD, Ohio---Miami (OH) exploded for seven runs in the seventh inning to break open a close game and hand Cincinnati its fifth straight setback, a 14-7 decision on Tuesday afternoon at McKie Field. The Bearcats did continue their solid hitting, however, as they banged out 12 hits, including three each by Steve Pickerell and Pat LeMasters.
The RedHawks (13-8) jumped to a 7-0 lead after five innings before the Bearcats (3-16) responded with four runs in the sixth. But Miami took advantage of a Cincinnati fielding error, picking up five hits and seven runs in the deciding seventh inning.
Pickerell continued his hot hitting as of late with three singles, while LeMasters stretched his hitting streak to eight with a three-for-five day that included a double, three RBI and his first home run as a Bearcat. Drew Saylor added a double and two RBI, while Aaron Moll went two-for-four.
Miami, which had 15 hits, got two each from five different players. Brian Canada drove in four runs, while Jason Brown and John Slone had three RBI apiece. Sam Shorts (3-1) was one of seven RedHawk pitchers to see time on the mound, earning the win after tossing 3.1 shutout innings. Aaron Moll (0-1) took the loss in his first career start on the mound.
Timely errors cost the Bearcats in a two-run second inning as the RedHawks pulled to an early lead. After Paul Frietch led the frame off with a single, back-to-back Miami bunt attempts resulted in Bearcat errors. Canada made UC pay for the errors first with an RBI single, while Jason Brown added a sacrifice fly.
The RedHawks kept the scoring going with a Frietch RBI single and a Geoff Orr run-scoring groundout in the third. Canada kept his big day going with a two-run single in the fifth, while Mike Ferris made it 7-0 with an RBI single.
The Bearcats put a dent in the seven-run deficit in the sixth, plating four runs. Three straight doubles by LeMasters, Saylor and Moll brought home all four of the UC markers. But Miami put the game out of reach at 14-4 with a seven-run seventh inning. Slone highlighted the frame with a three-run homer to left.
Cincinnati put its final tallies on the board in the eighth, getting three runs. All nine Bearcats batted in the inning, with LeMasters rocketing his home run to left to lead the explosion the inning. Brian Dill picked up the other RBI when he walked with the bases loaded.
As mentioned, Moll absorbed the loss for the Bearcats after allowing seven runs (six earned) in four-plus innings on the mound. The Bearcats continued to put runners on base, but leave them there as 10 UC base runners were left stranded. Miami left a total of 14 runners on base.
The Bearcats have little time to recover from the defeat, as they must travel to Purdue on Wednesday for a non-conference tilt. Kyle Markle will make his first start of the year for the Bearcats. Game time is set for 3 p.m.