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UC, Rutgers Meet In Easter Weekend Match-Up

UC, Rutgers Meet In Easter Weekend Match-UpUC, Rutgers Meet In Easter Weekend Match-Up

April 13, 2006

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SETTING THE SCENE: Cincinnati is back in BIG EAST action at the UC Baseball Stadium when the Bearcats and Rutgers open a three-game series tonight. Due to the Easter Weekend, the set will be played Thursday-Saturday, with the first two games starting at 6:30 p.m. and the finale scheduled for 1 p.m. The Bearcats are in need of conference victories after dropping two of three last weekend at Seton Hall. UC brings a 19-12 mark, including a 4-5 league slate, into the contest. Rutgers, winner of six in a row, is 14-14-1 and 5-4 in the BIG EAST.

NOTES FROM THE AKRON GAME:

  • Cincinnati improved its 2006 record at home to 12-1. The Bearcats are riding a 11-game winning streak at the UC Baseball Stadium.
  • Jack Nelson homered twice in a single game for the second time this season and the third time in his career. He also established a career-high with five RBI.
  • UC improved to 5-1 against in-state rivals this year with the win. The Bearcats have won 17 of their last 23 games against Ohio adversaries.
  • Nick Maragas had his career-best six-game hit streak snapped after going 0 for 4.
  • Adam Yeager's fourth inning single improved his hitting streak to five straight.
  • Jon DeLuca climbed into a tie for 11th on UC's career games played list with Corey Hinton (1996-99), with both players appearing in 179 contests. DeLuca also overtook Jack Kuzniczci for 11th on the hits chart with 192.

NOTING THE BEARCATS:

  • True freshman Josh Harrison continues to pace the Bearcats in hitting, ranking ninth in the BIG EAST with a .368 average. Logan Parker is tops in homers and RBI with six and 33, respectively, but he hasn't homered in his last 12 games or driven in a run in the last five.
  • The Bearcats are ranked in the top-five in the BIG EAST in batting average, runs, triples and home runs.
  • The sixth inning has been great to the Bearcats this season, as UC is outscoring its opponents 56-10 in that frame. The 56 runs is nearly twice the total of any other single inning UC scoring output. Cincinnati's .366 average in the inning is also the team's highest.
  • Team defense has been a strength for UC this season as the Bearcats are third in the BIG EAST with 36 double plays. UC ranks fifth nationally with 1.2 twin killings per contest.

NOTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS:

  • The Scarlet Knights come to Cincinnati with a six-game winning streak, the second longest in the BIG EAST behind Notre Dame's 14. Rutgers pulled off a stunning sweep of nationally-ranked West Virginia last weekend and stands at 14-14-1 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
  • Rutgers wins with home runs as the Scarlet Knights lead the conference and rank 48th nationally with 27 long balls. Individually, Frank Meade (eight) and Ryan Hill (six) are among the conference's leaders. Additionally, Rutgers ranks ninth in the league in scoring and 10th in hitting.
  • The Scarlet Knights' pitching staff ranks last in the BIG EAST in ERA (6.30), opponents batting average (.316) and strikeouts (123).

ANOTHER BAD WEEKEND: On the heels of a home series sweep of USF, March 31-April 1, the Bearcats endured another poor weekend when they traveled to Seton Hall this last weekend. UC saw its road record fall to 7-11 after dropping two of three to the Pirates. A comparison of UC's performance against USF and Seton Hall.

DELUCA PICKING UP THE PACE: No UC hitter has been hotter at the plate lately than senior 3B Jon DeLuca. Over his last 16 games, DeLuca is hitting .450 (27 for 60) with 11 runs and 17 RBI. The hot streak has raised his average from .255 on March 11 to .360. DeLuca hit .800 in the Bearcats' sweep of Oakland on March 18-19 and was instrumental in UC's sweep of USF, March 31-April 2. Against the Bulls, DeLuca hit .583 (7 for 12) and tallied seven RBI to earn BIG EAST Player of the Week honors on April 3. He was also placed on the College Baseball Foundation Honor Roll, joining Logan Parker as UC players named to the list this season. The stretch has also seen DeLuca match the school record for doubles in a game with three vs. USF on March 31.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: In its nearly two seasons of existence, the state-of-the-art UC Baseball Stadium has provided a solid home field advantage for the Bearcats. At no time has the edge been more significant than this year as the Bearcats are 12-1 at home. UC is hitting 75 points higher at home than on the road and averages over three runs per game more. Of Cincinnati's 23 home runs this year, 13 have come at home. Since its opening, the Bearcats hold a 29-16 (.644) record at home. The Bearcats are also enjoying an 11-game home winning streak, the longest at UC since an identical stretch from April 4 to May 5, 2001.

MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF: In his first season as a collegiate pitcher, true freshman Steve Blevins is quietly having an outstanding season. In nine starts and one relief appearance, Blevins leads the Bearcats with 50.0 innings pitched, holding a record of 5-3 and a 6.12 ERA and striking out a team-high 41. Without two rough starts at the beginning of the year, Blevins would have a 5-1 record and a 4.14 ERA. He is also within striking distance of the UC record (7) for wins by a freshman pitcher.

OFF TO THE RACES: The Bearcats have enjoyed a collective improvement in team speed this season, having collected 31 stolen bases through 31 games, one better than the Bearcats' total of all of last season. LaFringe Hayes and Josh Harrison have been the catalysts of the speed outbreak, as the duo shares the team lead with seven each. UC has also enjoyed career-highs from both Logan Parker (six) and Jon DeLuca (four).

BIG COMEBACK: When Mark Muscenti's single through the middle scored Logan Parker in the ninth inning of UC's come-from-behind win over USF on April 2, the Bearcats not only finished off a sweep of the Bulls, but they also put an end to a lengthy dry spell. Trailing 10-8 heading into the ninth, Cincinnati put together five consecutive singles, capped by Muscenti's hit, to rally for an 11-10 win. The ninth inning comeback snapped a streak of 98 consecutive games the Bearcats had lost when trailing after eight innings. Before the win over USF, the last victory of the kind came on May 16, 2002 vs. Saint Louis as Chris Hamblen's two-run, walk-off home run sent UC to an 8-7 victory.

A SCORING MACHINE: The Bearcats have become one of the BIG EAST's most dangerous offensive teams this season, averaging 7.4 runs per game and hitting .293 as a team. These numbers come despite being shutout four times and being held to a single run once. A sampling of some other UC scoring notes:

  • In 31 games this season, the Bearcats have reached double-figure scoring 10 times, after doing so just seven times in 55 games last year.
  • In UC's Feb. 19 game at North Carolina A&T and again on March 19 vs. Oakland, the Bearcats scored 10 runs in the sixth inning.
  • UC has scored over 20 runs twice this season, a feat that hasn't been accomplished by a UC team twice in a year since 2001.
  • The Bearcats' 23 runs on March 19 vs. Oakland were the most by a UC team since the school record of 26 against UAB on April 24, 1993.
  • UC, ranked third in the BIG EAST in runs scored (230), boasts two of the top-six individual run scorers in the league.

FINDING HIS STROKE: As a sophomore, Jack Nelson was one of the most dangerous hitters in Conference USA with a .360 batting average. After struggling as a junior, Nelson is back on track during his senior year, ranking third on the team with a .352 average. His power numbers are also back up as Nelson has connected on seven doubles and four home runs. The long balls have come in pairs as Nelson has a pair of multi-homer games to his credit this year (March 10, vs. Cleveland State and April 12, vs. Akron), giving him three for his career.

TIGHT GAME BLUES: Close games have been the Bearcats' achilles heel this season as six of UC's 12 losses have come by a single run. At no point was it more evident than March 24-26 at Connecticut, when UC opened BIG EAST play with a pair of one-run losses. The Bearcats followed that up with a 4-3, 11-inning defeat at Miami (Ohio) on March 29, but earned an 11-10 win over USF on April 2. UC has been hurt by a pair of 1-0 losses this season, something that hasn't happened since accurate records were kept beginning in 1958.

THE ANCHOR: Logan Parker has been the anchor of the Bearcats' line-up in 2006, beating opponents with both his bat and his patience. This year, Parker is fourth on the team in hitting at .319, while adding seven doubles, five triples, six homers and a team-leading 33 RBI. He has also shown great patience at the plate, drawing a BIG EAST-leading 31 walks. Parker is making waves in the new league, where he ranks among the conference leaders in RBI (2nd, 33), total bases (3rd, 72), triples (1st, 5), and slugging percentage (7th, .621). Additionally, Parker, who stole just three bases all of last year, has swiped six in 2006.

BEARCATS EARN REGIONAL RANKING: In the latest regional poll released by Northeast Baseball Review, the Bearcats have held their 10th place in the weekly top-10. UC became eligible for the list as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. Cincinnati is one of four BIG EAST schools ranked, joining West Virginia (4th), Notre Dame (5th) and St. John's (7th).

BUCKEYE STRENGTH: The Bearcats are out to continue their recent success against in-state rivals in 2006, with 11 games against Ohio schools scheduled. UC is 5-1 against in-state teams this year, after an April 12 win vs. Akron. UC's next Ohio battle is April 17 vs. Xavier. Last year, UC posted an 8-4 mark against in-state foes and has won 17 of its last 23 games against Ohio adversaries, including four straight against Xavier. All but one of the defeats during the stretch have come against Miami.

FILLING A HOLE: Freshman Josh Harrison has excelled since taking over the number two position in the batting order from the graduated Mark Haske. This season, Harrison leads the team and is ninth in the BIG EAST with a .368 batting average. The Cincinnati native has helped the Bearcats in a number of ways, stealing seven bases, notching three home runs, including his first career grand slam, scoring 35 runs and driving in 25. Harrison's 15 multi-hit games help him rank among the BIG EAST leaders with 46 total hits, while his run total is tied for fourth in the league. He had one of his best performances on March 19 vs. Oakland, going 3 for 4 and driving in a career-high six runs. He also has a pair of four-hit performances to his credit. In the field, Harrison has drawn starts at shortstop, second base, catcher and in the outfield.

UNDER THE RADAR: Throughout his career, senior 2B Mark Muscenti has flown under the radar, but if he continues the play he has this season, that won't be the case for long. This year, Muscenti is hitting .298, above his career average of .277 entering the season. He also has recorded 18 RBI, putting him on pace to top his career-high of 28. Always a steady fielder, Muscenti has a career fielding percentage of .969 in 189 games and has started 101 consecutive games, with all but one coming at second base. Muscenti has also made waves on UC's career lists, moving into the top-20 in games played (T-11th, 188), walks (T-13th, 93), on-base percentage (14th, .421), at-bats (14th, 645), hits (16th, 180) and runs (T-17th, 115). Muscenti is also the school record holder with 67 career hit by pitch. Since providing the game-winning hit against USF on April 2, Muscenti has endured a 1-for-16 slump, that has dropped his average to its lowest point since Feb. 12.

STEADY ARMS: Senior lefty Jack Nelson and sophomore right-hander A.J. Upton have formed a solid 1-2 punch out of the Bearcat bullpen in 2006, helping UC overcome the loss of graduated relievers Josh Kay and Kyle Markle. After tossing a combined 10.1 innings last year, Nelson and Upton have been UC's most reliable relievers this year. Upton has been one of the biggest surprises of 2006 as he has evolved into the Bearcats' closer. After preserving the Bearcats win on April 1 vs.USF, Upton is tied for second in the BIG EAST with four saves. He holds a 2.28 ERA and is limiting batters to a .176 batting average in a team-best 13 appearances. Nelson has also been strong, holding a 2-1 record, one save and a 3.86 ERA in 13 games. Additionally, sophomore Sean Munninghoff has enjoyed a fine season in relief, with a 3-1 record, one save and a 3.20 ERA in 12 outings. In 25.1 innings, opponents are hitting just .207 against Munninghoff. The save recorded by each pitched also marked the first of their respective careers.

HIGH ON HAYES: LaFringe Hayes has been a catalyst at the top of UC's line-up much of this season, using his speed to contribute in many ways. In game one of UC's Feb. 19 doubleheader at North Carolina A&T, Hayes scored five runs, becoming the first UC player to reach the total since Craig Tewes on March 7, 2001 vs. Xavier. During that same weekend, Hayes once again tied the school record for most triples in a single game, a mark that Hayes has already achieved one other time in his career, as he ripped two. With 11 triples in nearly two seasons at UC, Hayes is just one back of Billy Wolff's career record. Hayes is second in the BIG EAST with four triples and is third with 35 runs scored. In addition, Hayes is tied for the top spot on the team with seven stolen bases.

MR. VERSATILITY: Freshman Josh Harrison produced one of the top storylines of UC's series with Cleveland State, March 10-12. After Nick Maragas, the Bearcats' only healthy catcher, went down with an injury, Harrison was forced to don the catcher's gear for the first time in a game in his life. Harrison held his own behind the plate, handling 21 chances without an error or passed ball. The versatile freshman received high marks for his play from UC head coach Brian Cleary and the Bearcat pitching staff.

PARKER HONORED FOR PLAY: Logan Parker's big weekend against Oakland March 18-19 earned him recognition from both the BIG EAST and on the national scene. In addition to being named BIG EAST Player of the Week, Parker also earned a spot on the College Baseball Foundation National Honor Roll. For the series, Parker hit .462 (6 for 13), with all but one of his hits going for extra-bases. The senior ripped three home runs in the series, including a pair of three-run shots in the series-opener, while also recording 11 RBI, including seven in one game. Parker slugged an incredible 1.385 in the wins, while scoring six runs, walking four times and stealing two bases.

ALL THE WAY: During the 2005 season, Cincinnati's pitchers turned in only one complete game, but the 2006 staff doubled that total in just one day with its Feb. 19 doubleheader performance at North Carolina A&T. In the twinbill, juniors Kyle Rapp and Glen Simon each pitched all seven innings, leading the Bearcats to a sweep. In the first complete game of either pitcher's career, each struck out a career-high with Rapp fanning seven and Simon 13. The back-to-back complete games were the first for Bearcat hurlers since B.J. Borsa and Nate Bouldin each went all the way on April 5-6, 2003 vs. Southern Miss.

BEARCATS 10TH IN BIG EAST POLL: In its first season as a member of the BIG EAST Conference, the Bearcats have been tabbed to finish 10th in a poll of the league's 12 coaches. Notre Dame, the defending champions of the conference tournament, were the overwhelming favorites to win the 2006 title. The Fighting Irish picked up a total of nine first place votes, while Pittsburgh picked up two first place nods. Villanova, chosen in a tie for seventh, also earned a first place vote.