TicketsNelson, Kay Lead UC To 5-1 Win
Kay gets second win of season for Bearcats
Contact: Shawn Sell
5/18/2004
Josh Kay got his second win of the season Tuesday night at Akron. |
AKRON, Ohio?Cincinnati made Jack Nelson?s three-run first inning home run stand up as Josh Kay pitched six shutout innings to lead the Bearcats to a 5-1 win over Akron on Tuesday night in non-conference baseball action at Canal Park.
The game, which was delayed for two and a half hours at the start due to rain, belonged to the Bearcats, who improved to 14-38 on the year with the win. Akron slips to 25-24 with the defeat.
Kay?s first start as a Bearcats was stellar as he allowed only four hits with four strikeouts in six innings of work. The junior improves his record to 2-2 with the victory. Akron starter Pat Watt was hit with the loss, allowing four runs in two innings on the mound to put his record at 3-9.
Nelson?s first inning blast, his seventh of the season, was part of a four-hit day for the sophomore, who missed the cycle by just a triple. The Bearcat first inning started with back-to-back singles by Mark Muscenti and Pat LeMasters, before Nelson lifted his blast to the bullpen in right center. UC added another run in the second inning when Aaron Moll drew a bases loaded walk to score Muscenti.
The early runs were all that Kay needed as he stifled the Zips for six innings. Akron finally broke through for its lone run in the seventh against Brad Hunt when Andy Capraruolo drew a bases loaded walk. That brought Tony Maynard on for UC and he took over from there, tossing the final 2.1 innings for his second save of 2004.
The Bearcats added an insurance run in the top of the eighth when Moll picked up RBI number two of the night with a single to center that brought home Nelson.
The Bearcats were led on the day by Nelson with four of UC?s 15 hits. Erik Eitel also got into the act with three hits, while Muscenti added two. Akron?s Doug Kruthaupt led the Zips with a pair of hits.
UC will now be back in action when they open their brand new on-campus stadium on Thursday against UAB. First pitch from UC Baseball Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.