Bearcats Entertain WVU In Another Key Series

May 12, 2006

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SETTING THE SCENE: Cincinnati hosts another critical BIG EAST series when West Virginia visits the UC Baseball Stadium for three games this weekend (May 12-14). With just two weekends of play remaining, the race for the remaining six spots in the BIG EAST Tournament is red hot. Just two games separate fourth and ninth place, as UC enters the series tied for fourth with Louisville at 11-10. West Virginia is tied for sixth with Rutgers, as both teams hold a 10-11 mark. UC brings an overall record of 30-19 into the series, while West Virginia is 30-18. Action gets underway on Friday at 8 p.m., with a 4 p.m. start tabbed for Saturday and a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.

NOTES FROM THE BALL STATE GAME:

• Josh Harrison's third inning grand slam was his second this season and the Bearcats' sixth of the year. Brian Szarmach hit the most recent slam on April 23 vs. Georgetown.
• Mark Muscenti moved into a tie for fourth place in school history with 206 career games played. He shares the spot with Kevin Wilson (1998-01). Jack Nelson climbed into a tie with Corey Hinton (1996-99) for 17th on the same list with 179.
• Muscenti moved into a four-way tie for 11th on the runs scored list with 131.
• Logan Parker's first inning RBI gives him 57 this year, tying for the ninth-highest single season mark in school history. He shares the distinction with Matt Singer (2000).
• Muscenti is now tied for 13th on the UC single season walks list with 40.

NOTING THE BEARCATS:

• True freshman Josh Harrison continues to pace the Bearcats in hitting, with a .352 average. After a recent rough stretch, Harrison has gone 11 for 24 (.458) in his last six games. Logan Parker is tops in homers and RBI with nine and 57, respectively.
• The Bearcats' offense continues to impress, ranking in the top-six in the BIG EAST in batting average, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and walks. UC is also the 34th-best scoring team nationally.
• Team defense has been a strength for UC this season as the Bearcats are second in the BIG EAST with 55 double plays. UC ranks eighth nationally with 1.15 twin killings per contest.

NOTING THE MOUNTAINEERS:

• West Virginia has dropped four of its last five contests to fall into a tie for sixth in the BIG EAST at 30-18 overall and 10-11 in conference play. WVU dropped two of three last weekend at Georgetown.
• The Mountaineers possess the BIG EAST's most dangerous offense, leading the conference in batting, runs, doubles and home runs. Justin Jenkins has enjoyed an incredible season, with a .389 average, 23 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBI.
• Dan Leatherman leads the team and is tied for third in the BIG EAST with seven wins. WVU's pitching staff ranks fifth in the league with a 4.50 ERA.
• WVU outfielder Kyle Matuszek is a native of Cincinnati, having attended Purcell Marian High School.

WINS KEEP COMING: This season has been one of the best in recent Cincinnati baseball history as the Bearcats have earned 30 wins, tying for the fifth-highest total in school history. UC's win count is the program's highest since 2001 when the Bearcats went 34-24. Included in the victories this season has been a pair of seven-game win streaks. With just seven regular season games remaining, the Bearcats have assured themselves the first winning season at UC since 2001. With five more victories this season, the Bearcats will also tie the school record for wins in a season of 35, set in 2000.

BEST OF THE OLD GUARD: Cincinnati has enjoyed the best season of the three new members of the BIG EAST (Louisville and USF are the other two), as the Bearcats are 5-1 against the other new members this year. UC won a series with Louisville for the first time since 2001, while toppling USF for the first time since 2002.

THE BIG "O" DELIVERS: Lost in Steve Blevins' outstanding season has been the success enjoyed by another freshman starting pitcher, Cincinnati native Dan Osterbrock. In his last three starts, Osterbrock has been outstanding, winning all three of the outings and turning in a 1.27 ERA during the stretch. At Villanova on May 6, Osterbrock out dueled Wildcat ace Kevin Mulvey, turning in the first complete game of his career. In his last 17.2 innings of work, Osterbrock was allowed just one earned run, while striking out nine. In the BIG EAST's conference only statistics, Osterbrock ranks fifth with a 2.72 ERA.

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 20-5 at home. UC is hitting 70 points higher at home than on the road and averaging nearly four runs per game more. Of Cincinnati's 34 home runs this year, 25 have come at home. Since its opening, the Bearcats hold a 37-20 (.649) 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. Of Cincinnati's remaining seven games this year, all of them will be played at home.

MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF: In his first season as a collegiate pitcher, true freshman Steve Blevins is having an outstanding season. In 13 starts and one relief appearance, Blevins leads the Bearcats with 82.2 innings pitched, holding a record of 8-3 and a 5.01 ERA and striking out a team-high 58. With a win on April 28 at Louisville, Blevins broke Bruce Raible's (1968) freshman record for wins with eight. Blevins has been at his best as of late, moving into first place in the BIG EAST in both victories and innings pitched. He has won his last five decisions over six starts, boasting a 3.30 ERA during the stretch. Blevins has also tossed two complete games, including a shutout at Louisville on April 28.

THE ART OF THE SLAM: When Josh Harrison connected on a third inning grand slam in UC's May 10 loss to Ball State, the freshman gave the Bearcats six of the big blasts this season. Over the last three years, UC had collected just two grand slams per season. This year's team has passed the mark of five set by the 2002 squad. Szarmach is the active leader among the Bearcats with three career slams, while Harrison has two.

A SCORING MACHINE: The Bearcats have become one of the BIG EAST's most dangerous offensive teams this season, averaging 7.5 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 49 games this season, the Bearcats have reached double-figure scoring 15 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 third in the BIG EAST in runs scored (365), boasts three of the top-10 individual run scorers in the league.
• The Bearcats have climbed to 34th nationally in runs per game.
• UC has recorded five-plus run innings 19 times this season.
• The Bearcats' 365 runs ties for the sixth-highest single season mark in school history.

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 .344 (22 for 64) in his last 17 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 12 runs scored and 11 RBI, along with two doubles, a triple and his first career homer during the stretch.

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 hold 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.

ANOTHER BULLPEN ACE: Jack Nelson has been a valuable member of the UC bullpen this season, while also serving as the club's DH. In a team-leading 20 appearances this season, Nelson holds a 3-1 record and has three saves. He turned in two of his best outings on April 23 vs. Georgetown (4.1 innings, eight strikeouts) and April 29 at Louisville (3.1 innings, five strikeouts), earning saves in both.

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 .352 batting average. The Cincinnati native has helped the Bearcats in a number of ways, stealing nine bases, notching five home runs, including his first two career grand slams, scoring 56 runs and driving in 40. Harrison's team-leading 22 multi-hit games help him rank among the BIG EAST leaders with 69 total hits, while his run total is second in the league. After a tough stretch recently, Harrison is back on track, hitting .458 (11 for 24) in his last six games. In the field, Harrison has drawn starts at shortstop, second base, catcher and in the outfield.

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 second on the team in hitting at .326, while adding 12 doubles, six triples, nine homers and a team-leading 57 RBI. He has also shown great patience at the plate, drawing a BIG EAST-leading 46 walks, which ranks seventh nationally. Parker is making waves in the new league, where he ranks among the conference leaders in RBI (T-1st, 57), total bases (6th, 112), triples (1st, 6), runs (T-7th, 50), home runs (T-5th, 9) and slugging percentage (6th, .599). Additionally, Parker, who stole just three bases all of last year, has swiped a team-leading 11 in 2006. Parker has been on a tear as of late, hitting safely in 12 of his last 15 games, accumulating a .339 (20 for 59) average, with four doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. In UC annals, Parker's season RBI total is tied for the ninth-highest season performance in school history.

OFF TO THE RACES: The Bearcats have enjoyed a collective improvement in team speed this season, having collected 44 stolen bases through 49 games, topping the Bearcats' total of 30 from last season. Logan Parker has been the surprise speed merchant as he has swiped a team-leading 11 bases after posting just three last season. Josh Harrison and LaFringe Hayes are also among the leaders with nine and eight, respectively.

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 tied for third in the BIG EAST this year with six saves. He holds a 2-1 record and a 3.05 ERA, while limiting batters to a .185 batting average in 19 appearances. A former walk-on, Upton is already making his mark on the UC record books with his save total, ranking sixth on the single season list and 11th on the career chart.

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 .320, well above his career average of .277 entering the season. He also has recorded a career-high 30 RBI, topping his previous best of 28. Muscenti's knack for getting on base ranks him fourth in the BIG EAST with a .489 on-base percentage, while his 40 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 .967 in 206 games and has started 119 consecutive games, with all but one coming at second base. At Villanova on May 5, Muscenti made history, becoming the 10th player in school history with 200 career hits. Muscenti has made waves on UC's career lists, moving into the top-20 in games played (T-4th, 206), at-bats (7th, 710), walks (10th, 104), hits (10th, 204), on-base percentage (T-11th, .427), runs (T-11th, 131) and doubles (T-17th, 36). Muscenti is also the school record holder with 73 career hit by pitch.

BEARCATS EARN REGIONAL RANKING: On May 1, the Bearcats climbed to ninth in the Northeast Baseball Review weekly rankings. 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), Connecticut (6th), St. John's (7th) and West Virginia (8th).

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, as he is fourth on the team with a .314 average. His power numbers are also back up as Nelson has connected on a team-leading 14 doubles and five home runs, both surpassing his 2005 totals. His doubles total, along with his 36 RBI are both his career-highs. 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-12th, 39), hits (T-14th, 187), walks (16th, 89), at-bats (16th, 637), games (T-17th, 179) and RBI (20th, 102).

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 7-2 against in-state teams this year, after an April 25 win over Xavier. UC's final Ohio battle is May 16 vs. Miami. Last year, UC posted an 8-4 mark against in-state foes and has won 19 of its last 26 games against Ohio adversaries.

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, is fourth with 52 runs and is tied for seventh with 31 walks.

TIGHT GAME BLUES: Close games have been the Bearcats' achilles heel this season as eight of UC's 19 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 were heartbroken in their most recent one-run game, losing to Villanova, 7-6 in 11 innings on May 5. 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 fifth on the Bearcats with a .313 batting average, much higher than the .261 career average he began the season with. He has also been strong with the glove, starting 48 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. On May 5 at Villanova, he became the 11th player in school history with 200 career hits and is ninth on the list with 207.

PATIENCE PAYS OFF: Patience has been a key to the Bearcats' success this season, as UC paces the BIG EAST with 260 walks. Individually, the Bearcats have the top two walkers in the league as Logan Parker has 46 and Mark Muscenti 40. The former's total puts him among the nation's leaders in seventh with 0.96 per game. The team total ranks as the fifth-highest single season mark in program history.

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.