TicketsMaynard Dominates 49ers In 3-1 UC Win
Bearcats stretch win streak to four
Contact: Shawn Sell
4/15/2005
Tony Maynard threw a complete game Friday night vs. Charlotte. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Tony Maynard hurled a complete game four-hitter as Cincinnati opened a Conference USA baseball series with a 3-1 win over Charlotte on Friday night in the UC Baseball Stadium.
Maynard (5-2) needed just 91 pitches to dispose of the 49ers, throwing his second career complete game in the longest outing of his career. The win is the 12th of Maynard?s career, moving him into the top-20 of the school?s career wins chart.
Maynard?s effort helped the Bearcats, winners of four in a row, to improve their record to 14-16 on the year and 4-8 in C-USA play. The victory also keeps UC in the race for the eighth and final spot in the C-USA Tournament. Ninth place East Carolina picked up a 4-1 win over Louisville on Friday and retains a half-game lead over the Bearcats.
?Tony (Maynard) was as dominant tonight as he has been all season,? said Bearcat head coach Brian Cleary. ?When the ace of your staff can give you a performance like that on Friday night, it?s a great way to start the weekend. I thought we played great defense behind him and even though we only got three runs, I thought tonight was the best we have swung the bats in a while. Tonight was just a great, well-played game on both sides and we were fortunate to come out on top.?
Adam Mills (5-2) was solid for the 49ers, going the distance on the mound. Charlotte falls to 20-13, 5-8 in C-USA with the defeat. The only blemish for Maynard on the night was a home run by Charlotte?s Alex Bryant in the fifth inning.
UC recorded eight hits, including two each by Jon DeLuca and Jack Nelson. Maynard got outstanding defense behind him, spearheaded by Mark Muscenti who recorded 10 assists from his second base position.
The Bearcats had to work hard for all three of their runs, but got their first in the bottom of the opening inning. DeLuca singled with two out and advanced to third on a single by Logan Parker. With runners on the corners, Mills attempted a pickoff move at first, but his throw eluded first baseman Spencer Steedley, allowing DeLuca to waltz in from third.
UC stretched its lead to 2-0 in the third with a second manufactured run. LaFringe Hayes led off with a double to right and moved to third on Mark Haske?s sacrifice bunt. DeLuca then grounded a ball to the right side that allowed Hayes to score. Cincinnati stretched its lead once more an inning later when Brian Szarmach scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of pinch-hitter Brian Beltz.
Charlotte tallied its lone marker of the night with two outs in the fifth when Bryant cracked his first career homer on Maynard?s first offering.
The two teams will be back at it for game two of the series beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Justin Minges will take the hill for UC, taking on Charlotte?s Derek McDaid. Prior to the game, former Cincinnati Reds? pitcher Ted Power will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.