TicketsBearcats Shutout Cleveland State, 9-0
Hayes leads 13-hit attack
Contact: Shawn Sell
3/4/2005
LaFringe Hayes had a pair of triples in UC's win over Cleveland State on Friday. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Tony Maynard pitched eight shutout innings and the Bearcats recorded 10 extra base hits en route to a 9-0 win over Cleveland State on Opening Day in the UC Baseball Stadium. UC has now won two straight to even its record at 5-5 on the year.
Maynard allowed just five hits in a career-long outing, while matching his career-best with six strikeouts, while issuing no walks. The senior improved to 2-0 on the year in earning the ninth win of his collegiate career. The shutout for the UC pitching staff was the first for the Bearcats since an 8-0 win over Duke on Feb. 8, 2003.
The Bearcats totaled 13 hits on the day, including the first four triples in stadium history. LaFringe Hayes paced the Bearcat attack with three hits, including a pair of triples. Mark Haske and Jack Nelson each tacked on two hits, while Jon DeLuca drove in three runs.
?The big difference for us today was that Tony (Maynard) was dominant,? said UC head coach Brian Cleary. ?We also played very good defense and our pitching and defense kept us in it until we got some runs on the board. You have to credit (Matt) Kaltenbach, he held us down early and stuck with it. It?s just good to get a win in our first home game this season.?
Maynard and Cleveland State starter Matt Kaltenbach were both outstanding in the early stages, as neither team plated a run in the first four innings of play. UC finally broke through with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to jump into the lead. Neall French led the inning off with a double to left and one out later, Hayes lined a triple to left center that brought the former home to score. The three-bagger goes down as the first in the short history of the UC Baseball Stadium. Haske was next at the plate and like Hayes, he also ripped a triple, this one just inside the right field line. DeLuca followed with a sacrifice fly that allowed Haske to trot home from third.
The Bearcat bats continued the hot swinging in the seventh, scoring four runs against CSU reliever Brandon Hewitt. UC got its first run of the frame when a throw by Viking catcher Dominic Erney sailed into left field, allowing Haske to score after a double steal. Nelson followed with the first triple of his collegiate career to deep right center, bringing DeLuca home. After a Logan Parker RBI groundout, Brian Szarmach drew a walk, before racing home on an RBI double by pinch-hitter Erik Eitel.
Cincinnati plated its final two runs of the day in the eighth inning, this time against Jason Bartnicki. DeLuca did the honors with a two-run double to left center that scored Hayes and Haske.
Cleveland State (0-1) was limited to five hits on the day, with Jeff Katlen and Mike Ochwat each picking up two. Kaltenbach was solid, despite being handed the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings of work. The senior walked just one, while registering two strikeouts in the defeat.
Game two of the three-game set is scheduled for Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Freshman Kevin Schrader will get the start on the mound for Cincinnati, facing CSU junior Gary Ball.