TicketsNov. 5, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio---The first game of the University of Cincinnati's Red/Black Fall World Series showcased the competitive nature of the event and the evenness of the teams, as the contest ended in a 4-4 tie on Saturday at Marge Schott Stadium. With pitchers on a set throwing schedule for the fall, the decision to stop the game came after nine innings.
The game featured many offensive stars, including Black team members Tony Campana and Cory Hodskins who totaled three hits apiece. Neall French contributed a pair of hits for the Red squad. On the hill, Dan Osterbrock of the Red team and Billy Welsh of Black were the standouts, with both working in relief. Osterbrock allowed just a run and three hits with five strikeouts in three innings, while Welsh hurled four shutout innings, allowing just one hit.
The Red team started the scoring early, plating a first inning run courtesy of a French single that scored Adam Yeager. Ryan Baker of the Black side evened the score when he ripped a one-out, solo home run off of John Baird in the top of the third.
The Red team came right back to get Baird off the hook in the bottom of the inning plating three runs. With two outs, 2006 All-BIG EAST selection Josh Harrison doubled down the left field line and came in to score on French's second run-scoring hit of the game. Kyle Rapp followed with a two-bagger that brought French in and then the latter scored on an RBI single by freshman Tim McEndy. That would mark the end of the offense for the day for the Black team as it could muster just four more baserunners for the balance of the day.
The sixth inning saw the Black team jump on the comeback trail as Hodskins led off by smashing a triple, then scoring on a ground out by Dustin Alvey. Two innings later, Hodskins doubled and ultimately scored on a Cameron Satterwhite fielder's choice. The Black team accounted for the final run of the day in the ninth when Alvey drew a bases loaded walk to force in Campana who had reached on a lead-off double.
The second game of the series will take place today with a 1 p.m. first pitch on tap.