TicketsApril 15, 2008
SETTING THE SCENE: After having its seven-game win streak snapped on Sunday, the University of Cincinnati baseball team looks to return to the win column with a pair of mid-week tests against Kentucky and Butler. Jamel Scott and Tony Campana share first place in the BIG EAST in stolen bases with 25 thefts apiece. The next closest player in the BIG EAST has 16 steals. Cincinnati is 7-1 over its last eight games and is listed fifth in the nation in stolen bases with 57 thefts on 72 attempts. Victorious in 13 of their last 16 contests, the Bearcats continue to find ways to win with opportunistic offense and solid pitching. UC is averaging 6.25 runs per game and allowing a 4.1 runs over its last 16 victories. The Bearcats have received quality pitching all season long. The weekend starting trio of Dan Osterbrock, Michael Hill and Tyler Smith have combined for a 10-6 record and a 2.91 ERA. Equally talented, the bullpen has faltered just twice when UC has been tied or leading after five innings.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: No. 23 Kentucky crosses the Ohio River on the heels of a three-game skid, after being swept in SEC play at Georgia. Ranked as high as No. 9 in the country this season, the Wildcats offense is keyed by Sawyer Carroll and five other batters hitting .333 or better on the year. Carroll is batting a team-high .456 with an .816 slugging percentage that is highlighted by his 13 doubles and 10 home runs. Carroll also leads the club with 48 RBIs, followed by Collin Cowgill who has 39 runs batted in to go with a .375 average and team-high 12 homers.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Butler is 7-20 on the season and also suffered a three-game sweep in league play over the weekend. Leading the Bulldogs' offensive attack is the tandem of Joe Pauley and Colin Ziegel. Pauley is owns a team-high .291 batting average with three homers. Ziegel boasts a .284 average, 18 RBIs and has been successful on 4-of-5 stolen base attempts.
NOTING THE BEARCATS: Cincinnati has won seven of its last eight games and 13 of its of last 16 contests. After taking two out of three games against Pittsburgh, UC stands tied for second place in the BIG EAST Conference standings at 9-3. Senior center fielder Tony Campana leads the team with a .343 batting average and owns three triples. Right fielder Cameron Satterwhite is having an excellent junior season, hitting .336 with 13 extra-base hits, including nine doubles. Campana and Jamel Scott share the BIG EAST lead with 25 stolen bases each. As a team, the Bearcats are hitting .287 with 22 home runs, 45 doubles and seven triples. Cincinnati's three weekend starting pitchers have amassed 111 strikeouts and only 32 free passes in 139 innings of work. Dan Osterbrock is 4-2 with a 3.06 ERA, while Tyler Smith is 3-2, with a 3.53 earned run average, to go with 44 punch outs and 15 walks in 43.1 innings. Michael Hill owns a 3-2 record and the lowest earned run average of the group, at 2.17.
SATTERWHITE SEEING THE BALL ALRIGHT: Over the last 13 games, no one is hitting better for the Bearcats than Cameron Satterwhite. Leading the team with his .412 average over the span, Satterwhite is hitting (21-of-51) since March 26. The Bearcats' right fielder earned BIG EAST Conference Honor Roll acclaim earlier this season after hitting .533 (8-for-15), with a pair of doubles and a .667 slugging percentage.
WELSH SAVES THE WEEKEND SWEEP IN STORRS: Off of an injury to his throwing arm a year ago, Billy Welsh has enjoyed a fine senior season with 13 appearances on the season. After allowing his first runs of the season against Miami (OH), the senior right-hander responded by notching a save in each of UC's three victories at Connecticut. Welsh allowed one hit in two innings of relief to earn his first save. He bounced back in the nightcap to work a scoreless ninth to secure the doubleheader sweep. With Sunday's outcome hanging in the balance, he came in with two men on and two men out in the ninth inning and struck out the only batter he faced.