TicketsApril 18, 2007
CINCINNATI, Ohio---Ohio exploded for 12 runs in the final three innings, breaking Cincinnati's hearts on the way to a wild 16-14 win over the Bearcats on Tuesday night at Marge Schott Stadium. The Bearcats had a hand in letting victory slip away as an eye-popping eight errors led to 12 unearned runs on the night for the Bobcats. The defeat also took away from a career night for sophomore outfielder Cameron Satterwhite.
The meltdown for the Bearcats featured four errors in the last three frames, including a crucial pair on consecutive plays in the ninth by freshman second baseman Jamel Scott. The errors, along with six hits against closer Billy Welsh equaled an improbable win for Ohio which improves to 13-20 on the year. The heartbreaking defeat pushes UC's mark to 19-16.
The upside of the night came from Satterwhite who tied a school record with three home runs, while just missing the RBI mark, finishing with seven. Apparently, the home cooking was just what Satterwhite needed, as he broke out of a recent 4-for-25 slump in a big way.
Satterwhite had a hand in the Bearcats' other highlight of the evening as the Bearcats' five home runs were the most by a UC team since May 1, 2004 when six round trippers were hit against Saint Louis.
The first inning featured an unfortunate preview of things to come as two Cincinnati errors led to an Ohio run against starter John Baird. The visitors went up 2-0 when Chris Klimko clubbed a homer in the second, but that all changed as Satterwhite drilled a three-run blast to left in the bottom of the inning to put UC in front for the first time. Ohio again tied it in the third on an RBI groundout.
The Bearcats reclaimed the edge at 5-3 in the fourth, getting a Satterwhite RBI double and a run-scoring single by Tony Campana. Two more errors in the fifth allowed the Bobcats to get one of the runs back to make it 5-4.
In the last of the fifth, UC looked like it might turn the contest into a run away as 10 batters hit in a five-run inning. The Bearcats did all of their damage via the longball as a three-run shot by Brian Szarmach and Satterwhite's second homer, a two-run job, provided all the scoring. Adam Yeager put UC up 11-4 in the sixth with an RBI groundout.
The wheels began to teeter on the Bearcats' wagon in the seventh as the bullpen was touched for three runs as Ohio cut it to an 11-7 game. A throwing error by Adam Calez on a potential double play ball paved the way for the Bobcats' runs. With UC's lead starting to evaporate, Harrison seemed to give the hosts some final breathing room when he ripped his ninth home run to right in the seventh with a man aboard.
Down six, Ohio took a big chunk out of the lead with a four-run eighth inning as the wheels started to fall off for UC. The Bobcats did all of their damage with two outs as a costly error by Harrison let the inning continue. Hayden Johnston picked up an RBI double in the frame, while pinch-hitter Dusty Hammond delivered a two-run single.
While still clutching a 13-11 lead and with ace reliever Welsh on the hill looking for his fifth save, UC could have never expected what happened in the ninth. With one out, three straight singles cut the Ohio deficit to one. The UC meltdown then reached it peak as consecutive potential game-ending double play balls were mishandled by Scott allowing the go ahead runs to score. Kris McDonough then capped the Bobcats' scoring with an RBI double to deep center field that would have scored two if not for a strong throw by Campana and an equally on the mark relay to the plate by Yeager.
The drama seemed like it would finally turn in the Bearcats' favor in the bottom of the ninth as Satterwhite did the unthinkable, leading the inning off with his third homer. The comeback was not to be, however as Matt Smith retired the next three hitters in order to earn the win.
The hero for UC was Satterwhite who set new career-highs in runs (four), hits (four), homers (three) and RBI (seven). Szarmach added three hits and three RBI, while Harrison tacked on two of each.
Ohio got four RBI from Johnston, while Jeremie Rehak scored four times and recorded three hits. Smith got the win after allowing just Satterwhite's third homer in two innings of work.
UC must now put the loss behind them, returning home to face BIG EAST foe Connecticut for three games this weekend. The series gets underway on Friday at 6:30 p.m. with the projected pitching match-up featuring UC's Steve Blevins against Connecticut's Mike Tarsi.