TicketsParker Homers Help Bearcats To 7-5 Win
UC opens Memphis series with win
Contact: Shawn Sell
5/13/2005
Logan Parker homered twice in UC's win over Memphis on Friday. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Logan Parker homered twice and Josh Kay saved Tony Maynard?s seventh win of the year as Cincinnati opened its final Conference USA home series with a 7-5 win over Memphis on Friday night in the UC Baseball Stadium.
Parker homered in both the second and third innings, driving in four runs total as the Bearcats improved to 23-26 on the year. The victory, coupled with Charlotte?s loss to Houston on Friday night, moves the Bearcats into sole possession of ninth place in the C-USA standings at 9-15. Memphis falls to 11-38, 4-21 C-USA.
Maynard gave the Bearcats 7.2 strong innings, before running into trouble in the eighth. The senior gave way to A.J. Upton and then Kay, with the latter getting the final four outs, three by strikeout to secure his eighth save of 2005. Maynard improves to 7-3 with the victory.
Parker got the Bearcats on the board in the second when he slammed a high drive off Fifth Third Arena beyond the centerfield wall. In the third, Brian Beltz reached on a one out single and moved to second on a bunt by LaFringe Hayes. Mark Muscenti then dropped a single to right center that allowed Beltz to score to make it 2-0. After a single by Mark Haske, Parker ripped his second longball of the night, an end of the bat shot over the right field wall. Home run number two gives Parker 10 for the season.
On the hill, Maynard retired the first nine batters of the game, before Jordan Tolliver led the fourth inning off with a homer to left.
The seventh inning saw the Bearcats score two more times, starting with a lead off single by Muscenti. Two out later, DeLuca singled to right, moving Muscenti to second. Jim Olds then came up with an RBI single, just prior to an RBI double by Jack Nelson.
The eighth inning got off to a rough start for Maynard as he walked the first two batters of the frame. After getting two outs, Maynard walked Chad House to load the bases. Adam Amar then came up big for the Tigers, hitting his seventh home run of the season, a grand slam, to get the visitors to within 7-5. Upton then took the hill and after yielding a single to Cory Barton, was replaced by Kay. Kay struck out Patrick Hope, and then set the Tigers down in order in the ninth.
?I thought we played pretty well tonight,? said Bearcat head coach Brian Cleary. ?All three parts of the game were good for us and it?s a good start to the weekend. Tony really battled and kept us in the game and then Josh was just great when he came in.?
In addition to Parker?s two homers and four RBI, DeLuca had three hits for the Bearcats. Muscenti, Olds and Nelson added two apiece for UC. Barton totaled three of Memphis? seven hits on the night.
Game two of the three-game, weekend series is set for Saturday with a 4 p.m. first pitch. Prior to the game, UC?s nine seniors will be honored for their contributions to the program. Once the game gets underway, Sean Munninghoff will take the mound for UC, pitching against Memphis? Neil Schenk.