TicketsApril 2, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Cincinnati rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, capped by Mark Muscenti's game-winning single, sending the Bearcats to a thrilling 11-10 win over South Florida on Sunday afternoon at the UC Baseball Stadium. The comeback clinches a series sweep for the Bearcats and improves the squad's record to 16-10 overall and 3-3 in league play.
The comeback almost didn't happen as the ninth inning was full of drama. Pinch-hitter Kevin Schrader led the inning off by banging a base hit off the left field wall. While rounding first, Schrader stumbled and was subsequently thrown out at second base. After Nick Maragas struck out looking, UC had its back against the wall, but LaFringe Hayes and Josh Harrison kept the inning alive with consecutive singles. Logan Parker made it a 10-9 game with a single up the middle and Jon DeLuca followed with a game-tying single through the left side. That set the stage for Muscenti who drove a single just past the middle of USF's infield, allowing Parker to race home with the game-winning run.
The Bearcats ended the day with 18 hits, including three each by Hayes, Parker and Muscenti. Hayes missed hitting for the cycle by just a double, while collecting a career-high four RBI. Jack Nelson shook off a knee injury sustained yesterday to pitch the final two frames in shutout fashion to earn his second win of the year.
USF (14-15, 5-4 BIG EAST) got a huge day from Brandin Daniel who went 4 for 6 with six RBI, including a pair of home runs. Bulls' closer Chase Lirette was tagged with the loss after allowing the three winning runs on six hits.
The Bulls struck first, taking advantage of a Hayes fielding error to plate a first inning run against UC starter Dan Osterbrock. In the last of the second inning, it was the Bearcats' turn to take advantage of miscues as two USF errors led to a pair of Bearcat runs.
The see-saw battle fell USF's direction in the top of the fourth as the Bulls' used a two-run Daniel home run to take a 3-2 lead. The Bearcats regained the advantage just one-half inning later as Hayes' first home run of the year, a two-run shot, along with a Muscenti RBI single put UC back in front by a 5-3 score.
As had become the trend of the game, the momentum quickly went back to the visitors as Daniel's second homer in as many innings put USF back on top 6-5. The Bulls would go on to build the lead to 8-5 as Nick Cardieri led the sixth inning off with a homer and Daniel made it RBI number six with a seventh inning run-scoring single.
The Bearcats would rally once more in their half of the seventh, getting three runs to tie the game at eight. Pinch-hitter Kyle Rapp ripped a two-out RBI double into the right field corner to plate the first run and Maragas followed with a walk. With a 3-2 count and the runners going on the pitch, Hayes came up huge, knocking a triple into the right center field gap to plate the two game-tying runs.
Again USF took the lead in the eighth, touching the Bearcats for a pair of runs. Adam Calez started the inning on the mound by allowing singles to Cardieri and Braulio Pardo. Nelson took over on the hill, but walked Ty Taborelli on four pitches. The Bulls then snapped the tie when Addison Maruszak dropped an RBI single into left field. UC would go on to turn a double play with Kris Howell batting, but the Bulls' 10th run of the day scored on the play.
UC looked as if it would take the lead in the eighth as Parker and DeLuca led the inning off with singles against Matt Ingram. That brought Lirette out of the USF bullpen to face Muscenti. UC's senior 2B tried to put a bunt down, but drew a walk instead to load the bases with nobody out. The scoring chance was thwarted, though, when Cory Hodskins hit a ground ball to first baseman Daniel that turned into a 3-2-3 double play. Lirette then got Adam Yeager to bounce out to short to end the threat and set the stage for the ninth inning.
Osterbrock, in his first-ever start, was solid for much of his outing, retiring seven straight batters at one point, but leaving after allowing six runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. The freshman lefty walked four and struck out a career-high five in the outing. USF starter Davis Bilardello worked four-plus innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Cincinnati will try to carry the momentum gained this weekend on the road, playing four away contests this week. The Bearcats will travel to Ohio on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. match-up, before heading to Seton Hall for a three-game set next weekend.