TicketsMarch 18, 2007
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Cincinnati's speed produced nine stolen bases, sparking the Bearcats to a 14-5 win over Chicago State on Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium. The win brings UC its second straight series sweep and improves the squad's win streak to six. Cincinnati, now winners of 10 of its last 12 games, improves to 11-7 on the season.
It was the usual suspects leading the way on the basepaths for the Bearcats as Tony Campana and Adam Yeager each swiped three bases. The Bearcats finished the game just one steal away from matching the school single game record of 10 that was set in 1960. Campana's performance gave him 11 steals for the weekend and leaves him just four back of the UC single season record.
There were other offensive heroes for the Bearcats, including Josh Harrison who had two hits and three RBI. Jamel Scott, making his first start since Feb. 23 went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and his first career triple.
The win was also a historic one for the Bearcats on two fronts, as UC handed head coach Brian Cleary the 250th win of his career. The triumph was also number 1,000 for the program since 1958.
Michael Hill did much of the work on the mound, striking out a career-high nine in only five innings and securing his third win of the year.
UC wasted no time, jumping on Chicago State (0-18) starter Martese Barner and reliever Kyle Kupiec for seven runs in the first inning. The Bearcats tallied just three hits in the frame, including an RBI single by Scott and a two-run knock by Harrison.
Pitching for the first time in 11 days, Hill ran into some trouble in the second, allowing the Cougars three runs in the frame. Bryan Packard had the big hit of the inning, a two-run single, while Trenton Sanders also scampered home on a Cincinnati error.
The Bearcats would continue to pour it on in the middle innings, scoring a total of seven runs in innings four through six. The fourth inning saw Neall French pick up an RBI single, while the fifth started out with a bang as Brian Szarmach crushed his third homer of the year to right center. UC would continue to pile up the runs in the inning as Scott hit his run-scoring triple, Campana tallied a sac fly and Harrison drove in a run with a ground out. Michael Earley put an exclamation point on the inning when he drove his third homer of the year to deep left center. Cincinnati's final run came in the six, courtesy of a Cameron Satterwhite sacrifice fly.
Chicago State pushed its final two runs across in the top of the sixth, both coming on a Luke Grow two-RBI single.
Jonathan Wilson finished the day with two hits for the Cougars, while Grow and Packard each had two RBI. Barner (0-1) took the loss after allowing six runs and five walks with three wild pitches in just two-thirds of a an inning.
UC will now take on a busy week that features five games. The Bearcats will first make the crosstown jaunt to Xavier for a Tuesday contest, before hosting Toledo on Wednesday afternoon. Cincinnati then opens BIG EAST play next week at Pittsburgh.