TicketsApril 18, 2008
CINCINNATI -- Starting pitcher Dan Osterbrock allowed a home run in the second inning, but yielded just three hits the rest of the night, and the University of Cincinnati scored seven runs on nine hits, highlighted by two Mike Spina two-run home runs to top Georgetown 7-1 on Friday night at Marge Schott Stadium. The top power hitter in the Cincinnati lineup, Spina's homers were his seventh and eighth of the season.
Georgetown (13-21, 3-13 BIG EAST) enjoyed an early lead after Matt Harrigan hit a solo home run off the video scoreboard above the right-center field fence. It was Harrigan's fourth homer of the season.
Down 1-0 in the second inning, the Bearcats knotted the game at 1 when a batted ball off the bat of Chris Peters was misplayed on the infield and Ryan Baker was able to score from third base with two outs. Baker, who reached base on a walk, was standing at third after Tyler Goodro's single.
With two outs in the third inning, Cameron Satterwhite reached base after being hit by a Tim Adleman pitch. The next Bearcats hitter to step into the batter's box, Spina knocked a towering home run to left field to give the home side a 3-1 lead.
That was more than enough run support for Osterbrock who improved to 5-3 with the victory. Minus the long ball in the second, the Bearcats' starting pitcher did not allow a Hoya base runner to advance past second base on his way to his fourth-consecutive win. The junior showed outstanding command, striking out nine batters and without allowing a base on balls.
Over his last three starts, Osterbrock has struck out 20 batters without allowing a walk. The Cincinnati native's ERA is 2.63 over the same span.
Cincinnati (21-13, 10-3) added three insurance runs in the seventh inning to extend the lead. With two outs, Josh Harrison singled through the left side and showed his speed by coming all the way around to score on Satterwhite's RBI double off fence in the right-center field. Satterwhite's extra-base hit chased Addleman from the game. The Georgetown starter allowed four earned runs over six and two-thirds innings to move 3-5 on the season. Reliever Grady McConnell entered the game to face Spina, who greeted McConnell with a home run beyond the tall center field wall to extend the UC advantage to 6-1. Spina finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate, with four RBIs and two runs scored.
The Bearcats showed their speed on their way to an additional insurance run in the eighth inning against Hoyas' relief pitcher Jack Bender. With one out, Peters walked and quickly stole second base. After Tony Campana registered a single, two speedy runners were standing on the corners. Bender balked, allowing Peters to trot home and set the final count, at 7-1
The victory keeps Cincinnati firmly planted in second place in the BIG EAST standings. One win behind the league leader, the 10th league win of the year equaled UC's total from the entire 2007 campaign.
Cincinnati and Georgetown return to action at Marge Schott on Saturday. UC will recognize the late-Fred Braun, Class of 1948 and UC College of Law Class of 1956, prior to the game. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
--GoBEARCATS.com--