Bearcats-Musketeers Set For Battle Tonight

April 25, 2006

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SETTING THE SCENE: Cincinnati and Xavier will tangle for the second time in eight days when the Musketeers make the trip across town to the UC Baseball Stadium tonight for a 6:30 p.m. match-up. XU got the best of the first meeting, winning by an 11-10 score on April 17, but has since dropped four of five to slide to 13-30 this year. It's been just the opposite for the Bearcats, who have run off four straight victories to improve to 24-15 this season. The game will go down as the final meeting between the schools this year as the scheduled May 9 contest has been cancelled.

NOTES FROM THE GEORGETOWN SERIES:

• Steve Blevins moved into a tie with Bruce Raible for the most wins ever by a freshman pitcher at UC with seven after Friday night's victory.
• Jack Nelson turned in an impressive performance on Sunday, working 4.1 innings of one-hit shutout relief, with a career-high eight strikeouts.
• Cincinnati recorded double digit runs for the 14th time in 39 games this season, after doing so just seven times in 55 contests last year, with two 10+ outbursts over the weekend.
• Dan Osterbrock became the sixth Bearcat hurler to record their first win after winning on Saturday.
• UC swept the first-ever series between the squads.

NOTING THE BEARCATS:

• True freshman Josh Harrison continues to pace the Bearcats in hitting, with a .348 average. He endured a tough series over the weekend against Georgetown, going just 2 for 12 (.167). Logan Parker is tops in homers and RBI with eight and 45, respectively.
• After a big offensive weekend against Georgetown, the Bearcats are ranked in the top-four in the BIG EAST in batting average, runs, doubles, triples, home runs and RBI.
• The sixth inning has been great to the Bearcats this season, as UC is outscoring its opponents 65-19 in that frame.
• Team defense has been a strength for UC this season as the Bearcats are third in the BIG EAST with 42 double plays. UC ranks 15th nationally with 1.11 twin killings per contest.

NOTING THE MUSKETEERS:

• After beating the Bearcats on April 17, Xavier has dropped four of its last five games to fall to 13-30 on the year. The Musketeers were swept over the weekend by local rival Dayton.
• Xavier's top hitter is senior Sean Brewer, who holds a .292 batting average. He is also pacing XU with 25 RBI and 16 doubles.
• The Musketeers will start senior Steve Sakosits on the mound tonight. The right-hander will be making his fourth start of the season and the second of his career against UC. This year Sakosits is 0-1 with a 4.17 ERA in 20 games, spanning 41 innings.

COMING AROUND: After struggling for much of this season, Brian Szarmach has been on a tear as of late. The junior has hit safely in a career-high eight straight games, while batting .419 (13 for 31) with 14 RBI and seven runs scored. The recent success has come after Szarmach worked with associate head coach Brad Meador on mental approach and a slight modification in his swing.

SCHEDULE CHANGE: Cincinnati has made a slight change to its upcoming schedule as the Bearcats' May 3 game against Morehead State will now be a doubleheader. The twinbill will consist of two, seven-inning games starting at 4 p.m.

THE ART OF THE SLAM: When Brian Szarmach connected on a game-winning grand slam in UC's April 23 victory over Georgetown, the junior gave the Bearcats five of the big blasts this season. Over the last three years, UC has collected just two grand slams per season, but have already matched the mark of five set by the 2002 squad. Szarmach is the active leader among the Bearcats with three career grand slams.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: In its nearly two full 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 17-4 at home. UC is hitting 65 points higher at home than on the road and averages nearly three runs per game more. Of Cincinnati's 31 home runs this year, 23 have come at home. Since its opening, the Bearcats hold a 34-19 (.641) record at home. Prior to a loss to Rutgers on April 14, the Bearcats had a 12-game home winning streak, the second-longest in school history, behind a 17-game streak in 1960-61.

MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF: In his first season as a collegiate pitcher, true freshman Steve Blevins is having an outstanding season. In 11 starts and one relief appearance, Blevins leads the Bearcats with 67.1 innings pitched, holding a record of 7-3 and a 5.61 ERA and striking out a team-high 51. Without two rough starts at the beginning of the year, Blevins would have a 7-1 record and a 4.14 ERA. With a win on April 21 against Georgetown, Blevins has tied Bruce Raible's (1968) freshman record for wins. Blevins has been at his best as of late, moving into a tie for first in the BIG EAST in victories and securing second in innings pitched. He has won his last four starts, boasting a 3.77 ERA during the stretch.

BUCKEYE STRENGTH: The Bearcats are out to continue their recent success against in-state rivals in 2006, with 10 games against Ohio schools scheduled. UC is 6-2 against in-state teams this year, after an April 19 win over Dayton. UC's next Ohio battle is April 25 vs. Xavier. Last year, UC posted an 8-4 mark against in-state foes and has won 18 of its last 25 games against Ohio adversaries.

A SCORING MACHINE: The Bearcats have become one of the BIG EAST's most dangerous offensive teams this season, averaging 7.8 runs per game and hitting .296 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 39 games this season, the Bearcats have reached double-figure scoring 14 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.
• In an April 19 contest against Dayton, UC scored nine second inning runs before an out was recorded. In the frame, the Bearcats collected seven hits, including five straight at one point.
• UC, ranked second in the BIG EAST in runs scored (306), boasts three of the top-six individual run scorers in the league.

GETTING COMFORTABLE: Prior to the season, UC head coach Brian Cleary stated that it often takes new players 100 at-bats to get acclimated to Division I pitching. When it comes to freshman shortstop Adam Yeager, it appears Cleary was right on target. Since passing the 100 AB mark in mid-April, Yeager is hitting .407 (11 for 27) in his last seven games. Yeager had his best performance of the year April 21-23 vs. Georgetown, as he batted a team-best .545 (6 for 11). Yeager's offensive production has been improved all around as he has six runs scored and six RBI, along with his first career homer during the stretch.

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 with a .348 batting average. The Cincinnati native has helped the Bearcats in a number of ways, stealing eight bases, notching four home runs, including his first career grand slam, scoring 46 runs and driving in 31. Harrison's 18 multi-hit games help him rank among the BIG EAST leaders with 56 total hits, while his run total is third in the league. In the field, Harrison has drawn starts at shortstop, second base, catcher and in the outfield.

NOT SO FAST: Three new members of the BIG EAST have led to a big shakeup in the current league standings vs. the preseason coaches' poll. Only BIG EAST-leading Notre Dame, fourth-place Louisville and sixth-place Rutgers are currently holding the position they were tabbed to finish in prior to the season. Connecticut, picked ninth, has been the biggest surprise as the Huskies are in second. Pittsburgh, selected second, has been the biggest disappointment, as the Panthers are currently 11th.

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 third on the team in hitting at .331, while adding 10 doubles, six triples, eight homers and a team-leading 45 RBI. He has also shown great patience at the plate, drawing a BIG EAST-leading 39 walks. Parker is making waves in the new league, where he ranks among the conference leaders in RBI (1st, 45), total bases (3rd, 95), triples (1st, 6), runs (5th, 44), home runs (T-5th, 8) and slugging percentage (5th, .642). Additionally, Parker, who stole just three bases all of last year, has swiped a team-leading 10 in 2006.

OFF TO THE RACES: The Bearcats have enjoyed a collective improvement in team speed this season, having collected 41 stolen bases through 39 games, already topping the Bearcats' total of 30 from all of last season. Logan Parker has been the surprise speed merchant as he has swiped a team-leading 10 bases after posting just three last season. Josh Harrison and LaFringe Hayes are also among the leaders with eight and seven, respectively.

TIGHT GAME BLUES: Close games have been the Bearcats' achilles heel this season as seven of UC's 15 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.

ANOTHER GOOD SEASON: Senior 3B Jon DeLuca is enjoying another good season after shaking off a slow start that plagued him at the beginning of 2006. This year, DeLuca is tied for third on the Bearcats with a .331 batting average, much higher than the .261 career average he began the season with. He has also been strong with the glove, starting 38 games at third. 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. This season has also seen DeLuca match the school record for doubles in a game with three vs. USF on March 31. He is also just two hits shy of becoming the 10th player in school history with 200 career hits.

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 second on the team with a .336 average. His power numbers are also back up as Nelson has connected on a team-high 11 doubles and five home runs, both surpassing his 2005 totals. The long balls have mostly 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. Nelson has also started to move onto the UC career leaders lists, including doubles (T-16th, 36), hits (T-18th, 179) and at-bats (19th, 603).

UNDER THE RADAR: Throughout his career, senior 2B Mark Muscenti has flown under the radar, but that hasn't been the case in 2006. This year, Muscenti is hitting .311, well above his career average of .277 entering the season. He also has recorded 26 RBI, putting him on pace to easily top his career-high of 28. Muscenti's knack for getting on base ranks him third in the BIG EAST with a .497 on-base percentage, while his 36 walks are second only to teammate Logan Parker for the top spot in the league. Always a steady fielder, Muscenti has a career fielding percentage of .968 in 196 games and has started 109 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 (7th, 196), at-bats (9th, 673), walks (11th, 100), on-base percentage (12th, .426), hits (12th, 192), runs (14th, 125) and doubles (T-18th, 35). Muscenti is also the school record holder with 70 career hit by pitch.

UPTO(N) THE TASK: Redshirt sophomore A.J. Upton has provided the biggest surprise of the 2006 season for the Bearcats as he has evolved into the Bearcats' closer. After seeing limited action last season, Upton is now tied for third in the BIG EAST this year with five saves. He holds a 3.00 ERA and is limiting batters to a .188 batting average in a team-best 15 appearances. A former walk-on, Upton is already making his mark on the UC record books with his save total, ranking seventh on the single season list and 13th on the career chart.

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 a triple on April 19 vs. Dayton, Hayes has matched Billy Wolff's career record with 12 three-baggers. Hayes ranks second in the BIG EAST with five triples and is sixth with 43 runs scored.

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, 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.

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.

BEARCATS EARN REGIONAL RANKING: A 4-1 week propelled the Bearcats back into the latest regional poll released by Northeast Baseball Review, as UC holds down 10th. UC became eligible for the list as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. Cincinnati is one of five BIG EAST schools ranked, joining Notre Dame (1st), St. John's (6th), Connecticut (8th) and West Virginia (9th).

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.

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.

MUSCENTI WINNER OF STEPHENS AWARD: Senior 2B Mark Muscenti received one of the UC Athletic Department's highest honors at halftime of the Feb. 6 men's basketball game when he was announced as the 2006 winner of the Jean Stephens Memorial Award. Named in honor of the former Athletic Department employee, the Stephens Award honors one senior student-athlete each year that exemplifies excellence on and off the field. Muscenti was nominated for the award by UC head coach Brian Cleary.

UNFAMILIAR FOES: The 2006 season marks the dawning of many new rivals for the Bearcats, as the squad will face 11 first time opponents. In addition to six members of the BIG EAST, five of Cincinnati's first seven non-conference opponents are new. In conference play, UC will face Connecticut, Georgetown, Rutgers, St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova for the first time. West Virginia, along with Conference USA defectees Louisville and USF, are the only BIG EAST teams on the Bearcats' 2006 docket to battle UC prior to this year. On the non-conference side of the slate, UC will battle Florida, High Point, Niagara, North Carolina A&T and Oakland for the first time in 2006.

START OF SOMETHING NEW: The Bearcats move to the BIG EAST this season marks the opening to UC's sixth conference affiliation since 1949. The move is also noteworthy for UC senior OF LaFringe Hayes. A transfer from the University of Oklahoma (a member of the Big 12) prior to last season, Hayes will be playing in his third Division I Conference in three years.
Conference Inaugural Game Result
Mid-American April 19, 1948 at Miami (OH) Miami (OH) 14, UC 6
Missouri Valley April 26, 1957 at UC UC 9, Bradley 8
Metro May 14, 1976 at Memphis Tulane 4, UC 1
Great Midwest April 4, 1992 at Saint Louis UC 4, Saint Louis 3
Conference USA March 29, 1996 at UAB UAB 4, UC 2
BIG EAST March 24, 2006 at Connecticut UConn 13, UC 1