TicketsFeb. 21, 2007
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SETTING THE SCENE: Cincinnati closes out a season-opening eight-game road swing this weekend, traveling to Greensboro, N.C. to meet North Carolina A&T. The three-game series, to be held at War Memorial Stadium from Feb. 23-25, will mark the second straight season the two teams have met. UC grabbed its first win of the year on Monday at Austin Peay, improving to 1-4 on the year. North Carolina A&T opened its 2007 season on Wednesday, losing to North Carolina State, 5-3.
NOTING THE BEARCATS:
- Josh Harrison saw his career-best 18-game hitting streak come to an end on Feb. 19 at Austin Peay. In 63 career games, Harrison has failed to record at least one hit just nine times.
- Steve Blevins' record stands at an unlucky 0-2 after his second strong start of the year at Austin Peay. The Bearcats have averaged just three runs per game in Blevins' two starts, while averaging over 10 per game in the other three contests of the year.
- Cameron Satterwhite has tallied four doubles in the first five games of the year. The Indiana transfer is on pace to shatter the UC single season record of 25 established by Mike Kinnett in 1985.
- Cincinnati's team stolen base total for the year rose to 13 after the team swiped six at Austin Peay. It took the Bearcats 15 games to reach 13 steals last season.
NOTING THE AGGIES:
- North Carolina A&T finished last season at 22-36 overall and 6-12 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Aggies were picked to finish in the MEAC this season and are listed seventh in the Black College Baseball Division I poll.
- The Aggies feature a dangerous offense that includes preseason Brooks Wallace Award watch list members Charlie Gamble and Jeremy Jones, along with 2006 All-MEAC first team performer Joe McIntyre. Gamble and McIntyre both hit over .360 last year, while combining for 18 home runs and 89 RBI. Jones, the 2005 MEAC Player of the Year, returns after missing last year with an injury.
- North Carolina A&T will try to improve upon a 6.45 team ERA from last season. Junior John Primus is back as the staff ace after holding a 6-6 record and a 4.51 ERA a year ago.
UC AGAINST THE MEAC: Before last season, the Bearcats had played just one game against current members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, a 1993 victory over Bethune Cookman. After winning two of three at North Carolina A&T last year, the Bearcats are now 3-1 (.750) against current members of the MEAC.
HARRISON BACK AT IT: Josh Harrison has picked up where he left off last year early in 2007, hitting .300 and leading the team in home runs (four) and RBI (11). At Austin Peay on Feb. 18, Harrison saw his career-best 18-game hit streak come to end, but he bounced back with his fourth long ball one day later. In the 63 games making up his UC career, Harrison has failed to gather a hit in just nine contests. The sophomore has shown his blend of speed and power this year, adding two stolen bases to his home run total. For his play at Florida Atlantic (Feb. 9-11), Harrison became the first Bearcat this season to be named to the College Baseball Foundation National Honor Roll.
BLEVINS NAMED TO WALLACE WATCH LIST: Sophomore RHP Steve Blevins has been named to the 2007 Wallace Watch, the College Baseball Foundation announced. The "Watch" is comprised of 148 of the nation's best players, all vying for the Brooks Wallace Award, honoring college baseball's top player at the conclusion of the 2007 season.
BULLPEN LOCKDOWN: Two newcomers have joined returning ace A.J. Upton in forming a lethal threesome in the Bearcats' bullpen. Junior Billy Welsh has gotten his short stay off to a fine start, holding opponents hitless in 5.2 innings over a team-leading three appearances. At Austin Peay on Feb. 19, Welsh helped the Bearcats escape a bases loaded ninth inning jam to preserve the first save of his collegiate career. After struggling in his initial outing at Florida Atlantic, sophomore Michael Hill was dominant during the Austin Peay series. In gathering his first ever win, Hill held the Governors hitless in 3.2 innings, while striking out a career-best six. Through two outings, opponents are hitting just .125 against Hill. Upton, a candidate for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, shrugged off allowing a walk-off homer at Florida Atlantic with a scoreless frame at Austin Peay.
GETTING CROWDED: With LaFringe Hayes gone to graduation and Josh Harrison moved to the infield, UC entered the season needing someone to step up in the outfield. With the additions of Tony Campana, Cameron Satterwhite and Michael Obyc, the Bearcats have found the cogs to fill the holes. Campana has been a sparkplug at the top of the line-up, swiping six bases in five games. Satterwhite is off to a good start, hitting .316 and leading the squad with four doubles. The surprise in the group has been Obyc who moved into the starting line-up at Austin Peay and responded by hitting .667 (4-for-6) with two runs scored, three RBI and two doubles.
OFF AND RUNNING: The running game has become an intergral part of the Bearcats' success as they have stolen 13 bases through five games. Tony Campana has been the catalyst with six, while Adam Yeager (three) and Josh Harrison (two) also have multiple swipes. UC stole 48 bases a year ago, with Logan Parker's 13 topping the team. If the Bearcats stick to their current pace, they will topple the school record of 119 thefts established in 1992.
BEARCATS TABBED SEVENTH IN BIG EAST: The BIG EAST coaches have spoken and Cincinnati has been picked to finish seventh in the conference this year. St. John's was a narrow favorite to win the BIG EAST Championship, earning seven of the 12 first place votes and edging defending champion Notre Dame, 116 points to 110. The Fighting Irish accumulated four first place votes, while third-place Louisville earned the final tally. Rutgers, Connecticut and USF make up spots 4-6 ahead of the Bearcats. The coaches also honored Bearcat sophomore RHP Steve Blevins with a spot on the preseason all-conference squad.
HARRISON CLOSE: Sophomore Josh Harrison is just one at-bat away from reaching 250 from his career, enough to qualify him for inclusion on the UC career lists in several categories. After this weekend at North Carolina A&T, Harrison is projected to be included on the career lists for batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
BUCKEYE STRENGTH: In recent years, Cincinnati has enjoyed success against its in-state rivals, winning 19 of its last 27 games against Ohio adversaries, including 7 of 10 last year. The Bearcats will work to continue that success again in 2007 with 11 match-ups against Ohio schools. The in-state contests are: March 9-11 vs. Cleveland State, March 20 at Xavier, March 21 vs. Toledo, March 28 vs. Wright State, April 3 at Dayton, April 11 vs. Xavier, April 17 vs. Ohio, May 9 vs. Miami and May 16 at Miami. In 2006, UC's .700 winning percentage against other Ohio teams ranked as the third-best in the state behind Kent State and Wright State (.750 each).
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: In its two full seasons of existence, Marge Schott Stadium has provided a solid home field advantage for the Bearcats. With 28 home games on this season's home schedule, UC will look to carry over its home field success of 2006 this year. Last season, the Bearcats finished the year with a 22-10 record at home and hit 62 points higher (.319 to .257) at home than on the road, while averaging over three runs per game more. Since its opening, the Bearcats hold a 39-24 (.619) record at home. Prior to a loss to Rutgers on April 14, 2006 the Bearcats had a 12-game home winning streak, the second-longest in school history, behind a 17-game streak in 1960-61.
UPTON A BEARCAT TO WATCH: Junior closer A.J. Upton has been recognized among the nation's best at his position as he has earned a berth on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America Stopper of the Year Award watch list. The award is presented annually to the top relief pitcher in Division I. Upton is listed among the top-35 relievers in the country for the award that will be announced on June 7, just eight days after the finalists are revealed. The mid-season watch list will be announced on April 18. Upton ranked fourth in the BIG EAST last season with six saves, while holding a 2-2 record and a 3.86 ERA.
BEARCATS ON THE AIR: Last fall, the UC Department of Athletics relaunched its official website, GoBEARCATS.com, and with it rolled out CATSVision All-Access. This spring, Tommy Gelehrter, UC's manager of new media and broadcasting, will provide fans exclusive radio coverage of approximately 15 games, along with the BIG EAST Championship. The tentative schedule includes: March 10 vs. Cleveland State; March 21 vs. Toledo; April 3 at Dayton; April 17 vs. Ohio; April 20 and 22 vs. Connecticut; April 25 vs. Butler; April 28-29 vs. Villanova; May 2 vs. Morehead State; May 9 vs. Miami (Ohio); May 16 at Miami (Ohio) and May 17 vs. Louisville.