TicketsWood, Parker Lead Bearcats To Win At Wake Forest
UC avoids sweep with 5-2 triumph
Contact: Shawn Sell
2/27/2005
Bryan Wood improved to 2-0 on the year with a victory Sunday at Wake Forest. |
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.---Bryan Wood turned in 3.2 solid innings of relief and Logan Parker hit a three-run home run to lead Cincinnati to a 5-2 non-conference win over Wake Forest on Sunday afternoon at Gene Hooks Stadium.
Wood (2-0) allowed just one run on two hits, with five strikeouts before leaving with two outs in the eighth. Josh Kay recorded the final four outs, three by strikeout, to earn his second save of the season. UC improves to 4-5 on the year, heading into the team?s home opener next weekend. Wake falls to 4-7 this season.
Cincinnati got off to another fast start, as they plated two runs in the first against Wake starter and losing pitcher Matt Hammond (0-3). Jack Nelson made it a 1-0 ballgame with an RBI single, before Brian Szarmach drew a bases loaded walk that forced home Jon DeLuca.
Wake cut its deficit in half with a single run in its half of the first. UC starter Sean Munninghoff walked the first two batters he faced and got burned when J.B. Tucker ripped an RBI double to left center.
Neither team was able to dent the scoreboard again until the fifth inning, although Wake Forest left a runner on base in each of the innings leading up to the fifth. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Parker ripped a Hammond offering over the right field fence with two runners aboard for his team-best third home run of the season.
The Deacons put together a challenge in the last of the fifth that ultimately spelled the end of the day for Munninghoff. UC?s freshman right-hander walked the first two batters and was replaced on the hill by Wood. Andy Goff dropped a bloop single into left center to greet Wood and load the bases. But the Fairfield, Ohio native quickly rebounded, striking out the next two hitters and getting an inning-ending fielder?s choice to end the threat.
Wake tallied the final run of the afternoon in the eighth, chasing Wood. Ben Ingold?s RBI grounder to short allowed Ryder Mathias to cut the score to 5-2. When the next two batters reached, Kay was summoned from the pen and he promptly struck out Casey Sterk on three pitches to end the inning.
The Bearcats recorded its third straight double-digit hit output, led by LaFringe Hayes? three singles. DeLuca, Nelson and Parker all added two apiece for UC. Despite walking eight batters, Bearcat pitching allowed Wake just three hits on the afternoon.
As stated, the Bearcats will open the 2005 home schedule next Friday, hosting Cleveland State for the first of a three-game set. For ticket information, log onto www.ucbearcats.com or call the UC Ticket Office at 513-556-CATS.