Bearcats Can't Avoid Sweep At Rutgers

May 6, 2007

Box Score | Notes

PISCATAWAY, N.J.---Rutgers broke open a close game with a four-run eighth inning, vaulting the Scarlet Knights to an 8-3 win over Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon at Bainton Field. The defeat marks the first time since the opening weekend of the season that the Bearcats have been swept in a weekend series.

Cincinnati (25-23, 8-12 BIG EAST) overcame an early 2-0 deficit to take its first lead of the weekend in the fifth inning. Rutgers (30-16, 16-5 BIG EAST) countered, however, scoring the last six runs of the afternoon to come away with the victory.

Adam Yeager paced the Cincinnati offense with three hits, while Michael Obyc had two. Josh Harrison collected two of the three RBI for the Bearcats.

Rutgers got a pair of runs in the first inning against starter Michael Hill. Dave Williams delivered the hit of the inning when he ripped a two-run double into right center field.

The score remained 2-0 Rutgers until the fourth when Ryan Baker drove a single through the left side to plate Obyc. UC took the lead just one inning later, getting consecutive singles by Tony Campana and Yeager and a two-run double into right by Harrison.

The Scarlet Knights took advantage of one of five Cincinnati errors to tie the game in the fifth and two more in the sixth to assume the lead for good. In the fifth with men on the corners, Mike Bionde took off for second and was safe and Todd Frazier trotted home when Baker's throw sailed into centerfield.

A pair of errors on the same play led to the go-ahead run for the hosts one inning later. A misplayed grounder by Obyc at third allowed Jon Gossard to score with two outs and Dustin Alvey's return throw to the infield was wild, allowing Luis Feliz to take second on the play.

The Knights piled on four runs in the eighth, two on RBI singles by Bionde and Ryan Hill to round out the day's scoring.

Reliever Matt Patterson was key in the win for Rutgers as he twirled 3.2 shutout innings, while allowing just one hit and striking out five. He received his second win of the season for his efforts. Bionde paced the Rutgers offense with three hits and two runs, while Hill had two hits.

Cincinnati will try to bounce back with a home game against Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.