TicketsMarch 29, 2008
Osterbrock fires complete game to even mark;
SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Lefthander Dan Osterbrock allowed three runs over nine innings and Cameron Satterwhite provided the offensive punch with four RBIs, including a two-run blast in the seventh inning, for a 5-3 win over Notre Dame in Game One of the doubleheader. In Game Two, one poor defensive inning and 12 UC runners left on-base proved more than enough in a 4-3 loss to split the BIG EAST Conference doubleheader.
In the day's first contest, Notre Dame (13-8, 4-1 BIG EAST) grabbed an early 1-0 lead. Leadoff batter Brett Lilley was struck by Osterbrock's first pitch of the day. Lilley moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored with two outs on a single for the first run.
Cincinnati (11-10, 3-2 BIG EAST) responded in the second inning when Mike Spina singled and Josh Harrison walked to start the frame. A ground out by Satterwhite plated Spina to knot the game at 1 apiece.
The first three Irish batters reached to load the bases in the third inning, but a pair of defensive gems by the Bearcats limited the threat. Playing third base, Spina allowed a sharply hit ground ball to bounce off his chest before he picked it up and retired the runner at the plate. With the bases loaded and one away, Tony Campana chased down a fly out on the warning track that allowed the runner at third to score. A relay from Campana to Josh Harrison to catcher Ryan Baker gunned down A.J. Pollock who was attempting to score from second on the play.
Good defense leads to offense and Harrison started the fourth by being hit by a pitch. Two batters later, he scored on a double by Satterwhite to equal the score at 2-2.
In the sixth inning it was Harrison again serving as the catalyst for Cincinnati's offense. The Queen City native reached via a single and was standing at third after successive stolen bases. Baker lined a single to plate Harrison and give UC its first lead of the day, 3-2.
The NCAA active leader in being hit by pitch, Lilley took his third free trip to first with one out in the seventh. He moved to third on a single and scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game again, 3-3.
The Bearcats answered the bell immediately. After Tyler Goodro reached on a one-out error, Satterwhite knocked an inside curveball high over the trees beyond d the left field fence to put the visiting Bearcats in front for good, 5-3.
In the second game, a three-run second inning by Notre Dame provided an insurmountable deficit for UC in a 4-3 defeat.
After retiring the first five Irish hitters he faced, UC starting pitcher Michael Hill allowed a two-out single and an error. With two on-base and two away, Billy Boockford hit a dribbler safely through the right side to score the first run of the inning. The next batter lashed a single to right field that was misplayed by Satterwhite and allowed two more runs to come home to create the early deficit.
It took the Bearcats until the fifth inning to apply pressure on Irish starter Wade Korpi. Consecutive walks, followed by an infield single loaded the bases and Jamel Scott singled up the middle to score their first run of the game. Kevin Johnson's bases-loaded walk cut the margin to 3-2.
Notre Dame doubled its lead in the sixth after Jeremy Barnes doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sac fly.
Satterwhite notched a one-out double in the eighth to start another UC scoring opportunity. Two batters later, Chris Peters singled him home to bring Cincinnati within one, at 4-3. In the ninth, UC put runners on first and second with two away before Notre Dame's Kyle Wieland closed the door to preserve the one-run decision.
The third and final game of the BIG EAST series between the Bearcats and Irish is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.