TicketsMarch 21, 2008
CINCINNATI-- The University of Cincinnati baseball team found itself facing adverse circumstances when on the second pitch of its BIG EAST Conference opener, Joey Angelberger launched Dan Osterbrock's pitch over the fence. Cincinnati's No. 1 starter, Osterbrock struggled for much of the night and USF took advantage on its way to a 14-10 decision.
USF (11-8, 3-1 BIG EAST) struck first with Angelberger's home run. UC responded in its first chance after Jamel Scott notched an infield single. Scott moved to third on a single and came home on a sacrifice fly to tie the game, at 1-1.
The second inning has been a stumbling block for UC's pitching staff this season and tonight was no different. USF plated five runs on three hits in the second inning, highlighted by Ryan Lockwood's two-run single that and made the margin 6-1.
Cincinnati (6-9, 0-1 BIG EAST) roared all the way back with five runs of its own in the bottom half of the second. Cameron Satterwhite and Ryan Baker each singled to begin the frame. A fielding error by starting pitcher Daniel Thomas loaded the bases and one out later, Tony Campana tripled to clear the bases. A sacrifice fly by Scott brought home Campana and cut the margin to 6-5. Kevin Johnson followed with a triple of his own and came home on Mike Spina's single to even the score at 6.
Kyle Eastham took the mound after Thomas was ineffective in less than two innings of work. Eastham (1-0) allowed three runs on six hits over four and a third innings of relief en route to his first decision of the year.
After a scoreless third, Chris Rey homered over the left field wall to make it a 7-6 USF lead. Consecutive singles put a pair of runners on base and a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners to scoring position. Lockwood's reached safely on an infield single and a ground out scored Addison Maruszak to make it a 9-6 game.
Campana led off the UC half of the fourth with his second triple of the night and later scored on an Eastham balk to cut the margin to 9-7. The senior center fielder finished 2-for-6, with three RBIs and two runs scored. Scott, Johnson, Harrison, Satterwhite and Ryan Baker collected two hits each for Cincinnati.
USF added to its lead with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth. Angelberger ripped a two-out double off of Adam Calez to plate both runs in the fifth inning. Calez replaced UC starter Dan Osterbrock (1-2), who left the game allowing seven earned runs on in his shortest outing of the season.
After USF loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, Maruszak singled to score two runs. A wild pitch brought home Jonathan Koscso to make the margin 14-7.
Cincinnati scratched back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Harrison's double scored Johnson and Cameron Satterwhite followed with an RBI single to plate Harrison and make it a 14-9 contest.
USF relief pitcher Stephen Hunt came in and quickly found his way into trouble in the seventh. After the first two batters he faced reached base, a hit by Scott scored pinch runner Michael Obyc to make it 14-10. USF's Zach Pietrzyk replaced Hunt with the tying run on deck and stopped the UC bats. Pietrzyk worked quick eighth and ninth innings to earn his first save of the year.
The Bearcats return to Marge Schott Stadium on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Bulls. The BIG EAST twin bill is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m.
--GoBEARCATS.com--