TicketsUC-Wake Game One Suspended In 12th Inning
Opener to be concluded at 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Contact: Shawn Sell
2/25/2005
Brian Szarmach hit his first career homer Friday at Wake Forest. |
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.---With the score tied at eight in the top of the 12th inning, the first game of a non-conference baseball series between Cincinnati and Wake Forest was suspended due to darkness. The game will be resumed at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, prior to the start of the regularly scheduled game two.
The Bearcats appeared to have the game in hand in the top of the 11th, when Mark Haske raced home from second on a fielding error by Wake?s Ben Ingold. But the Deacons rallied in the bottom of the frame, getting an RBI single by Matt Miller to stay alive.
Cincinnati got off to a hot start, jumping to a 7-0 lead after three innings of play. Jon DeLuca, the reigning Conference USA Hitter of the Week put the Bearcats on the scoreboard in the first with an RBI double to left that plated Haske. UC took advantage of a Wake error in the second, pouring on three more runs, two coming off the bat of Haske on a single to center.
In the third, the Bearcats continued their assault on Wake starter Tim Morley as Brian Szarmach came up with his first career homer, a two-run shot to right center. UC tacked on a seventh run in the fourth when Mark Muscenti scored on a double play.
But after the fourth inning, Morley and relievers Brian Bach and Eric Niesen became nearly unhittable, allowing UC just one base hit from innings five through nine.
At the plate, the Wake Forest bats came to life as they rattled off seven unanswered runs. The Deacons started the comeback with a four-run outburst in the last of the fourth, kicking off their scoring off on a two-run double by Ingold. That brought Brendan Enick to the dish and he blasted his first career homer to left to draw the home team back within three. Wake tacked on another run in the sixth when Casey Streck ripped an RBI double.
Wake Forest made its tie-breaking push in the bottom of the eighth, tying the score at 7-7 against the Bearcat bullpen. With two outs and the bases loaded, Andy Goff lined a two-run single to right field against Josh Kay that tied the score.
In the ninth, Wake got the winning run to third base, but Kay was able to work out the jam, when he got Miller to foul out to UC catcher Neall French.
The 10th inning was a story of missed opportunities for both squads as UC left the bases loaded in its half of the inning, while Wake left a runner on second, setting the stage for the drama of the 11th inning.
Each team has produced 10 hits, with Haske leading the Bearcats with three and Enick pacing Wake with four. Logan Parker has two hits for Cincinnati, as does J.B. Tucker of Wake.
Starting pitcher Tony Maynard was solid on the mound for the Bearcats, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits, with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Morley recovered from his rough start to allow only four earned runs with six strikeouts and four walks in six innings.
After the conclusion of today?s game, Saturday?s contest will get underway at Gene Hooks Stadium. Kevin Schrader will draw the start on the mound for UC, taking on Wake?s Josh Ellis.