TicketsApril 12, 2008
CINCINNATI-- The University of Cincinnati needed a two-out base hit off the bat of Jamel Scott in the bottom of the 11th inning to score Chris Peters from second base and register a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh in BIG EAST Conference baseball action at Marge Schott Stadium. Scott's single gave Cincinnati its seventh consecutive victory and sixth-straight BIG EAST triumph.
Pittsburgh struck first with a solo home run by Sean Conley in the top of the third inning. The left fielder's blast was his ninth of the season and made it 1-0.
Cincinnati (19-11, 9-2 BIG EAST) responded in the bottom half of the third. Chris Peters reached base via a fielding error and went to second on a balk by Pitt starting pitcher Rob Brant. A bunt single by Tony Campana put runners on first and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly out by Scott scored Peters and knotted the game, at 1.
The Bearcats' half of the sixth opened with a walk by Kevin Johnson. A single off the bat of Mike Spina advanced Johnson to second. After a four-pitch walk to Tyler Goodro, the bases were loaded for Ryan Baker. Baker singled through the left side and Johnson scored to put UC in front 2-1. Attempting to score from second on the play, Spina a strike from Conley in left field retired the junior at the plate and stalled Cincinnati's momentum.
UC starting pitcher Michael Hill pitched into the eighth inning, allowing seven hits and two base on balls, while striking out five before giving up a two-out double to Dan Williams. Jake Geglein entered the game in relief of Hill and induced a ground ball, but an error allowed Williams to score from second and tie the game, at 2-2.
Geglein finished the eighth inning on his way to completing three and one-third innings on the mound to earn the decision for the Bearcats. The win marked the first of the season for Geglein (1-0).
In relief of Brant, who left the game with one out in the fifth, Pitt's David Kaye tossed four and two-thirds of scoreless relief. Brant allowed two runs on five hits, with four walks and four strikeouts. Kaye allowed four hits in relief before giving way to Ricky Breymeir (2-2) in the bottom of the 11th.
Pittsburgh's (9-19, 2-9 BIG EAST) hard-throwing Breymeir notched two outs, before yielding consecutive walks to Peters and Campana. Campana ended the game 3-for-5 to lead the UC. With Scott behind in the count, at one ball and two strikes, the sophomore ripped a single to center field and Peters came around from second to score before the throw to give Cincinnati its seventh-straight victory.
Scott finished with two runs batted in and extended his team-high hitting streak to 10 consecutive games. The Bearcats left fielder has reached safely in 17 of his last 18 games.
Winners of 13 of their last 15 games, the Bearcats go for the three-game sweep against the Panthers on Sunday at 1 p.m.
--GoBEARCATS.com--