TicketsApril 27, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The University of Cincinnati baseball team departed the Derby City with a much different feeling than it entered the weekend with after dropping the rubber match of the BIG EAST Conference three-game series, 9-3 on Sunday afternoon before 1,012 spectators at Patterson Stadium. Cincinnati took a three-run lead in its first at bat of the afternoon, and loaded the bases on two separate occasions, but could not produce any further runs against the Louisville bullpen.
Cincinnati (25-17, 12-6 BIG EAST)jumped out in front with three runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Jamel Scott and Josh Harrison were in scoring position after back-to-back singles and a stolen base by Harrison. Mike Spina knocked a double to right field and both runners scored. Cameron Satterwhite followed with a double down the left field line that brought home Spina and gave Cincinnati a 3-0 advantage.
UC starting pitcher Tyler Smith got off to a shaky start, walking leadoff batter John Dao on four pitches. After an uncontested steal of second base and a wild pitch that went to the screen, Smith found his control and induced a ground out that plated Dao and cut the lead to 3-1.
Louisville (26-16, 10-8 BIG EAST) loaded the bases against Smith in the second inning before a single through the right side cut the lead to one run, at 3-2. Following the UC starter issued his third base on balls of the day, Matt Heber took the mound. Heber induced a fly out that plated the runner from third base before getting out of the inning with the score deadlocked, at 3-3.
With the score even, at 3, Cincinnati found it difficult to bring runners home in the top of the third inning. UC loaded the bases after three hits, but Ryan Baker hit a sharp grounder to third base that resulted in a fielder's choice and halted the threat.
In the Louisville half of the fifth, Heber gave up a leadoff single and exited in favor of reliever Jake Geglein. Cincinnati's top fireman, Geglein, allowed a pair of infield singles to load the bases with none out. A fly out to right field plated the inning's first run. One batter later, a fielder's choice allowed the second run to score and put Louisville in front, 5-3.
The Bearcats filled the bases again in the seventh, but could not scratch into the scoring column. Tony Campana singled through the right side and Harrison notched his fourth hit of the afternoon to put runners on first and second. A double steal moved the tandem into scoring position for Spina, who grinded out a walk. Fooled by a pitch, Satterwhite checked his swing, but made contact for a ground out that brought the last scoring chance to an end.
Trailing 5-3, the Bearcats allowed four additional Cardinals' markers in the bottom half of the seventh to set the final count, at 9-3.
Heber yielded one run on four hits to suffer the loss and move to 1-1 this season. After stepping in for Louisville's starting pitcher, Bob Revesz, who left the game after two and two-thirds innings, Gabriel Shaw was credited with the victory. Shaw worked two and one-third innings, giving up three hits to improve to 3-3.
In his toughest outing of the season, Geglein allowed five runs on seven over two and a third innings. Adam Calez retired the final five batters in order to stymie the unfriendly hosts.
The brightspot for Cincinnati's offense throughout the weekend, junior Josh Harrison was 4-for-4 at the plate, with a run scored. Harrison also registered three stolen bases to up his season total to 18 thefts. Scott and Satterwhite collected two hits each, while Spina collected two RBIs and finished 1-for-3.
Cincinnati enjoys an off day on Monday, before starting a home-and-home series with Xavier. On Tuesday, UC travels to XU for a 3 p.m. contest and the cross-town foes tangle for the third and final time in 2008 on Wednesday night at Marge Schott Stadium. Wednesday night's matchup gets underway with a 6:30 first pitch.
--GoBEARCATS.com--