TicketsPickerell The Star Of UC's 9-8 Win
Senior catcher homers twice in fourth inning
Contact: Shawn Sell
5/11/2004
Steve Pickerell homered twice in UC's win over Ball State Tuesday. |
MUNCIE, Ind.---Steve Pickerell homered twice in the fourth inning, including his first career grand slam and the Bearcats held off a late rally as Cincinnati picked up a 9-8 non-conference win over Ball State on Tuesday afternoon at the Ball Diamond.
Pickerell?s outburst came as part of an eight-run inning for the Bearcats that allowed them to overcome an early 3-1 deficit. He led off the inning by lining a solo shot down the left field line, before adding his grand slam later in the inning, blasting a no doubter over the left center field wall. The senior catcher finished the day with five RBI, giving him 44 for the year, along with 13 home runs.
Trailing 9-6 heading into the last of the ninth, Ball State rallied for two runs and had the bases loaded against Greg Russell. But after an intentional walk to Kenny Bargfeldt that packed the sacks, Russell induced a comebacker to Jason Bucholtz that ended the game. Cincinnati improves to 13-35 on the year with the win, while Ball State is 24-21.
The fireworks started early as Ball State scored three runs in the first against Brian St. Jean. With two outs and a runner on, St. Jean walked Brad Miller and Kyle Dygert made him pay by ripping a three-run homer to right to give the Cardinals the early edge. Cincinnati got one of the runs back as Aaron Moll hit the first pitch he saw over the left center field wall for his ninth home run of the year.
The fourth inning started with Pickerell?s first bomb and then the wheels started to fall off for BSU starter and losing pitcher Ryan DeGeeter (4-1). DeGeeter hit three batters in the inning, one to force in a run and also gave up a sacrifice fly to Mark Muscenti and an RBI single to Brian Beltz. With two outs in the inning, Pickerell capped off UC?s scoring with his grand slam to deep left center.
Ball State started to claw back into the game in the sixth inning against a tiring St. Jean. After an RBI double by Bucholtz, St. Jean retired Brian Meyer but then gave up a two-run bomb to Kiel Holman that made it an 8-6 ball game.
In the ninth, Ball State made it interesting as Holman struck out to start the inning, but was able to reach first on a wild pitch. After two straight singles, Russell retired two batters to bring Lucas Fry to the plate. The Cardinals? catcher came through in a big way as he blooped a right to bring it to a one-run game.
St. Jean earned the win for the Bearcats, allowing six runs on eight hits in six innings of work. The junior is now 4-5 on the year, with two of the four wins coming against Ball State. Russell worked the final three innings to earn his first career save. DeGeeter took the loss for BSU, allowing nine runs on seven hits in four innings.
Pickerell was the obvious hitting star for the Bearcats with his pair of homers and five RBI. Beltz, Jack Nelson and Moll all added two hits each for the Bearcats. Ball State was led by Bargfeldt?s 4-for-4 day and two hits by Marc Franz.
The Bearcats are back in Conference USA action this weekend, when they travel to Memphis for a three-game set. The series will get underway on Friday with first pitch set for 7 p.m. CT.