TicketsHayes' Return Sparks UC Triumph
Junior goes 4-for-5 in return
Contact: Shawn Sell
4/9/2005
LaFringe Hayes went 4-for-5 Saturday at Saint Louis. |
ST. LOUIS, Mo.---LaFringe Hayes? return to the starting line-up provided the spark that Cincinnati needed, as the Bearcats snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Saint Louis in game two of a Conference USA series on Saturday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center.
Hayes went 4-for-5 at the plate, while making two spectacular catches in the outfield in his first action since leaving a March 25 game at Southern Miss with an injury. Hayes added one run and one RBI on the day for UC. Brian Szarmach pounded his fifth home run of the season for the Bearcats, tying him with Logan Parker for team-high honors this season.
Justin Minges was credited with the win in a controlled start, leaving after 4.2 innings of work. In his first start against a C-USA opponent since May 3, 2002, Minges allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts. The victory was his first since beating Ohio on April 22, 2003.
The Bearcats improve to 11-16 overall and climb past the Billikens into 11th place in the league standings with a 2-8 mark. Saint Louis falls to 6-22 overall and 2-9 in league play.
Cincinnati fell behind in the first as the Billikens touched Minges for the only two runs he would allow on the day. John Bridges was hit by a pitch to start the frame and moved to third on a pair of singles. Johnny Sweeney came through with the bases loaded, driving a two-run single to right center.
The Bearcats came back to take the lead with a four-spot in the top of the second. With one out, Brian Beltz singled, went to second when Jack Nelson drew a walk and advanced to third on Dustin Alvey?s single. Hayes came through with an RBI infield single that scored Beltz and Nelson raced home on a Mark Haske RBI groundout. UC?s final two runs scored on a fielding error by SLU second baseman Patrick Valdes.
UC put another two runs to its cushion in the fifth when Szarmach ripped his homer to deep left with a runner on.
Saint Louis drew within three runs in the eighth inning against Josh Kay on an RBI single by Sweeney. The Billikens threatened once more in the ninth, getting runners to second and third with two out. With Scott Peden the tying run at the plate, Kay struck the Billiken first baseman out looking to end the game.
Ryan Bird took the loss for Saint Louis, falling to 1-4 on the year. Bird gave up six runs (four earned) on nine hits in six innings, but did strike out six Bearcats. In between Minges? and Kay?s stints on the mound, Kyle Markle hurled 2.1 shutout innings for Cincinnati.
Drew Eder was the big hitter for Saint Louis, registering three hits, including a double. Sweeney totaled three RBI, with two hits, while Bill Musselman also tallied a pair of knocks.
The rubber game between the Bearcats and Billikens is set for 1 p.m. CT tomorrow in the Billiken Sports Center. Freshman Kevin Schrader will make the start for UC, taking on SLU?s Etienne Ratte-Delmore.