TicketsMarch 30, 2007
BETHESDA, Md.---A variety of miscues, including a five-run first inning by Georgetown town paved the way for Cincinnati's third straight BIG EAST defeat, as the Hoyas handed the Bearcats an 8-2 loss on Friday at Shirley Povich Field.
For the day, the Bearcats struck out nine times, left 12 men on base and committed four errors which led to five unearned runs for the hosts. That all added up to a setback pushes UC's record to 13-12 overall and 1-3 in the BIG EAST.
Cincinnati did have some positives; including 11 hits which marks two straight games the Bearcats have reached double figures. Tony Campana stole three bases, giving him 35 for the year and a share of the UC single season record for steals.
UC just could not overcome the five-run first inning outburst by Georgetown that featured four unearned runs. After a lead-off walk to Mark McLaughlin, a sacrifice bunt attempt by Derek Degrijs led to a throwing error by Josh Harrison. The Hoyas took advantage, getting a RBI single by Matt Bouchard and a Matt Ianetta sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Later, Brandon Davis scored on a wild pitch, Joe Silvestri tallied an RBI single and Matt Maranges blooped a run-scoring double and all of the sudden it was 5-0 Hoyas.
Cincinnati tried to cut into the deficit but left multiple runners on in five innings. In the third, Adam Yeager beat out an RBI double down the left field line for the Bearcats' first run of the day.
Georgetown made it 6-1 in the fifth when Brandon Davis took a Steve Blevins offering deep to left for his third home run of the year. The two teams traded runs in the seventh, with UC getting a run-scoring fielder's choice by Neall French and the Hoyas getting a run when a Ryan Baker pick-off throw sailed into left field. Georgetown scored the day's final run in the eighth on an RBI single by Bouchard.
Three different players finished with two hits each for the Bearcats, including Yeager who also had an RBI with his double. Michael Earley and Jamel Scott chipped in two hits each for Cincinnati. Blevins had his bid for five straight victories halted with one of his tougher outings of the year. The sophomore allowed only two earned runs, but seven total, along with 11 hits in seven innings.
Georgetown (11-15, 1-3 BIG EAST) got a solid performance from Erick Chandler who yielded two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Jack Bender worked the final 2.1 innings in scoreless fashion to wrap up the game.
UC and Georgetown will meet in game two of the series with first pitch at 1 p.m. Dan Osterbrock will start on the mound for the Bearcats, taking on Georgetown's Michael Gaggioli.