TicketsMay 6, 2006
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.---Cincinnati used a four-run ninth inning outburst and a complete game pitching effort from freshman Dan Osterbrock to take a 5-1 win over Villanova on Saturday afternoon and even the BIG EAST series at a game apiece.
Osterbrock put together the finest outing of his young career, outdueling Nova ace and potential draft pick Kevin Mulvey. Osterbrock allowed seven hits and one walk, while striking out three in the first complete game of his career. He improves to 3-1 with the victory.
In the ninth, LaFringe Hayes played the part of hero as his RBI single allowed Jon DeLuca to score the winning run. The inning started with DeLuca lining a one-out single up the middle, before Mulvey retired Brian Szarmach for the second out. Mulvey then came unhinged, hitting Adam Yeager and Nick Maragas in consecutive at-bats to load the bases. Hayes hit a sharp single to short that allowed DeLuca to score and a hard charging Yeager was also safe at the plate as Ryan Arcadia's throw was wild. Josh Harrison put the game out of reach for the Wildcats, when he followed Hayes with a two-run single to center.
The victory was a big one for Cincinnati in its quest to qualify for the BIG EAST Tournament. UC improves to 11-9 in the league with the win and has now secured the sixth 30-win season in program history at 30-17. Villanova, also in need of conference victories, falls to 25-21, 7-12 BIG EAST.
The Bearcats managed to touch Mulvey for nine hits after the Villanova junior had an opponent's batting average of just .242 entering the day. Hayes and Harrison each had two hits and two RBI, while DeLuca also had a pair of hits and two runs scored.
Villanova got three hits from Craig Mirsky who has terrorized Cincinnati pitching to the tune of 7 for 10 this weekend. Jeremy Hunt tacked on two hits, including a double for the Wildcats.
The day had all the makings of a pitchers duel as the game was scoreless through four innings. In the fifth, the Bearcats finally got to Mulvey, taking advantage of a throwing error by the right-hander on their way to the first run of the day. DeLuca led off with a single and one out later, Yeager attempted to bunt him over. Mulvey fielded the grounder and tried to go to second, but his throw pulled Arcadia off the bag and all hands were safe. After DeLuca took third on a Maragas fly ball out, Hayes perfectly placed an RBI single through the left side for the first run of the game.
Villanova made its only serious threat of the day in the sixth, tying the game, but leaving the bases loaded. Andy Wendle led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. Arcadia followed with a single as did Mirsky, with the latter's driving home Wendle. After a fielder's choice erased Mirsky at second, Hunt was intentionally walked and Frank Cirone's grounder to short ended the inning.
Mulvey's final line showed five runs allowed, but just one was earned, along with nine hits, a walk and six strikeouts.
Cincinnati will go for the series win on Sunday, with first pitch set for Noon. UC starts junior lefty Kyle Rapp, while Villanova will counter with freshman Josh Eidell.