TicketsBearcats Fall In ECU Finale, 8-4
DeLuca doubles, homers for UC
Contact: Shawn Sell
5/1/2005
Jon DeLuca hit his first home run of the season on Sunday at East Carolina. |
GREENVILLE, N.C.---A five-run fourth inning outburst helped East Carolina to an 8-4 win over Cincinnati in the series finale between the two schools on Sunday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium. ECU improves to 26-17 overall and 11-10 in Conference USA, while the Bearcats fall to 19-22, with a 7-13 C-USA mark.
A total of 11 ECU batters came to the plate during the fourth inning, as the Pirates stretched their 2-0 advantage into a 7-0 edge. Dale Mollenhauer was part of the big play of the inning as he recorded an RBI single, went to second on a UC fielding error and advanced to third on a throwing error that saw two runs score ahead of him. Brian Cavanaugh also had an RBI single in the frame, while Ryan Peisel drew a bases loaded walk.
Cavanaugh and Mollenhauer led the Pirate attack with three hits each, including Cavanaugh?s third homer of the year. Jon DeLuca doubled and homered among his three hits for the Bearcats, while driving in three to push his team-high total to 34. Mark Muscenti also had a pair of hits for the Bearcats.
East Carolina jumped on the board first in the bottom of the third when Cavanaugh ripped a homer to right center off of Sean Munninghoff (3-4) with one out. After the five-run fourth, the Pirates added their eighth and final run of the day in the fifth on Brett Lindgren?s sacrifice fly.
After getting held in check by ECU starter and winning pitcher T.J. Hose (5-3) for much of the day, the Bearcats finally broke through against reliever Mike Flye in the seventh. Brian Szarmach drew a one-out walk and came around to score on DeLuca?s first long ball of the 2005 season.
UC made one final push in the ninth, scoring a pair of runs to draw to the final 8-4 margin. Mark Haske walked to start the inning, just prior to back-to-back singles by Logan Parker and Szarmach. DeLuca then added his third RBI of the day with a single through the left side. Erik Eitel picked up the final RBI of the day when he reached on a fielder?s choice to score Parker.
Hose was outstanding on the mound for East Carolina, holding UC to just three hits in six shutout innings. The freshman walked just one, while striking out two. Brett Braxton came in with the bases loaded in the ninth, recording the final three outs for his first career save.
The Bearcats will now return to the UC Baseball Stadium for the start of a season-long 10-game homestand. UC will welcome Kent State to town on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch, with TCU visiting next weekend.