TicketsApril 23, 2008
CINCINNATI--Cameron Satterwhite notched a two-run double in the first inning and a three-run home run in the second, but his performance was overshadowed by Mike Spina's three-run blast in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth that powered the University of Cincinnati baseball team to an 18-3 dismantling of Morehead State on Wednesday night. Satterwhite finished the night 3-for-5, with five runs batted in, while Spina carded a 3-for-4 effort with two round-trippers and four RBIs.
With two outs in the first inning, Josh Harrison and Spina each singled to left field to set the table for Satterwhite. The junior right fielder ripped a doubled that cleared the bases and gave UC a 2-0 lead.
Morehead State (15-23) used three hits in the second inning to tie the game, at 2.
Cincinnati (24-15) responded in the bottom half of the frame right away with a solo home run by Tyler Goodro. Goodro's fourth homer of the year started a seven-run second inning. Chris Peters followed with a walk and Tony Campana singled to put runners on first and second for Jamel Scott. The speedy Scott beat-out an infield single and two throwing errors by Morehead State resulted with Peters and Campana scoring and Scott standing at third base. Then, Harrison singled to bring home Scott and Spina walked. With two UC runners aboard, Satterwhite smashed a home run to left field to extend the lead to 9-2. The seven-run second marked the most runs scored in a stanza by UC this season.
Morehead State starting pitcher Jake Helvey exited the game after one and a third innings on the mound. Helvey suffered the loss after giving up seven runs on as many hits.
The Eagles came back to register a run in the third, when Marc Midden came home on J.D. Ashbrook's RBI single. The Eagles' final run of the game cut the lead to 12-3.
Kevin Johnson provided a much-needed five innings of work on the mound to start the game for Cincinnati. The lefthander provided a steady presence on the mound, allowing the Bearcats to jump out to the nine-run lead. Johnson improved to 2-0 with his second victory in as many weeks and also notched a 1-for-4 performance as UC's designated hitter.
Peters, who collected 7 hits in 16 at bats over the six-game stretch, opened the fifth inning with a double to right field. The rookie shortstop scored when Campana tripled into the right field corner. Campana cruised home on a Scott ground out and two batters later, Spina pulled a line-drive shot inside the left field foul pole to push the lead to 15-3. Spina, who is leading UC with nine home runs and 39 RBIs on the year, is second on the team with his .357 batting average, including a .439 average in the month of April.
Satterwhite, whose .359 batting average leads UC, started the eighth with a double down the left field line. Dustin Alvey walked and Ryan Baker was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Michael Obyc. Obyc hit into a ground out, that scored Satterwhite. Peters followed with a single that squeaked through the the middle to score Alvey and Baker to set the final count, at 18-3.
Relievers Brian Sand, Adam Calez, and Adam Heber worked four scoreless innings of relief to close the door on the Eagles. Sand and Calez worked one inning each. Heber gave up one hit in the eighth and one in the ninth, but did not allow a runner to advance past second base before registering the final putout.
Finally done with their stretch of six games in six days, the Bearcats enjoy a day off on Thursday before heading to Louisville for a BIG EAST Conference series against the Cardinals. Friday's series opener is slated to get underway at 6 p.m.