TicketsMarch 3, 2007
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Neall French's seventh inning grand slam broke open a close game, leading Cincinnati to a 9-1 win over Dartmouth on Saturday at frosty Marge Schott Stadium. The victory ran the Bearcats' win streak to three straight.
UC starter Steve Blevins finally got the run support that has eluded him all season long, as the former Freshman All-American earned his first victory of the year. The triumph pushes Cincinnati's record to 4-5 for the year.
French's seventh inning slam, the first of his career, was part of a 10-hit day for the Bearcats. Tony Campana, Michael Obyc and Michael Earley all had a pair of hits to lead the charge. Cincinnati took the victory despite committing a season-high five errors.
Blevins, now 1-3 on the season, allowed only five hits and an unearned run, while walking one and striking five. The sophomore left the game prior to the run scoring following the first of two delays for snow on the afternoon.
The Bearcats got to work early scoring three times in the first two frames against Dartmouth starter and losing pitcher Jeff Wilkerson (0-1). Campana started the first inning by collecting an infield single and promptly stealing second base. Two batters later a fielder's choice by Josh Harrison brought Campana in the score. Harrison would later score the second run of the frame on a passed ball. UC's third run came in the second inning when French raced home on an Obyc RBI groundout.
From there, the game settled into a pitcher's duel with Blevins and Wilkerson holding their opponents scoreless into the sixth. In the top of the sixth, Raymond Allen reached on a fielder's choice and took second when Adam Yeager's throw to first sailed out of play. The first snow storm came on the heels of Andrew Nacario's groundout and when play resumed Michael Hill was the Bearcat hurler. Nick Santomauro greeted him by chopping a ball in front of the plate for an infield single and the Big Green's first run of the afternoon.
With the outcome still in doubt, French did his long ball work in the seventh, hooking a shot around the right field foul pole off of reliever Bobby Steinsdoerfer. UC added two more runs in the eight on a run-scoring groundout by Yeager and a Brian Szarmach RBI single.
Santomauro was the leader of the Dartmouth offense, going 2-for-4 with the lone RBI. Wilkerson was the tough luck loser after allowing just one earned run (three total) in five innings of work.
The two teams will attempt to play a doubleheader consisting of two seven-inning games tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. Be sure to check GoBEARCATS.com for updates on the status of the games.