TicketsApril 29, 2008
CINCINNATI -- Leadoff batter Tony Campana punched base hits and dashed around the bases in each of the first three innings to push the University of Cincinnati's baseball team in front of Xavier 8-2 after three innings and Cincinnati cruised to a 13-7 win on the road on Tuesday afternoon at Hayden Field. Campana, along with teammates Jamel Scott and Ryan Baker collected three base hits apiece in UC's second win in as many chances against XU.
Campana started the game with a double and moved to third on Scott's single to center field. Xavier starting pitcher Brian Muransky tossed an errant pickoff attempt beyond the reach of the first baseman and Campana scored, while Scott moved to second. Two batters after Muransky hit Josh Harrison with a pitch, Kevin Johnson, the hero of last week's extra-inning win over Xavier, knocked a two-run double down the right field line that plated both Scott and Harrison and put visiting Cincinnati in front 3-0.
Xavier (19-24) answered immediately with a run in the bottom half of the first against Cincinnati starting pitcher Nick Johnson. Zac Richard's double over UC left fielder Justin Riddell scored Drew Schmidt to make it a 3-1 contest.
The fireworks continued in the second inning when Bearcats designated hitter Tyler Goodro blasted a solo homer into the chain link fence, beyond the left field wall to push the lead to 4-1. With one away, Campana reached on a single and was standing 90 feet away from home after stealing both second and third base. Scott bounced a hit through the left side that allowed Campana to trot home and extend the margin to 5-1.
Cincinnati (26-17) added three more runs in the third inning behind the strength of the long ball and speed of Campana. With one away, Baker notched his first hit of the game and following a fly out, Riddell popped a homer to left field. Back at the top of the lineup, Campana continued inning by lacing a single up the middle. Once again, the speedy outfielder stole second. He moved to third due to an errant throw from the catcher. Scott's infield single scored Campana to extend the margin to 8-1.
After Schmidt opened the Xavier third with a double and later scored on a double play, the score was 8-2. Cincinnati stymied Xavier throughout the afternoon, turning a season-high five double plays.
In the fourth, Cameron Satterwhite's solo homer to the opposite field, made it a 9-2 advantage.
With two outs in the fifth, the Bearcats went on the offensive to pad their lead with two more runs. With Harrison on first after his lone hit of the day, Mike Spina poked a double to straight-away center field that brought home Harrison. Hustling from second base, Spina came around to score when Satterwhite's infield single was knocked down, but not controlled, to make it 11-2.
Cincinnati added its final two runs on the contest in the sixth inning. Baker opened the frame with a laser to left field. He came around to score on Goodro's double down the right field line. Goodro advanced to third on Riddell's second hit of the game, and scored on a fielder's choice to set the UC lead at 13-2.
Nick Johnson left the mound after five and two-thirds innings of work for the Bearcats. The right-handed Johnson allowed two runs on seven hits and improved to 3-2 with the win. Muransky dropped to 1-5 with the loss after two and two-thirds.
Xavier registered three consecutive singles in the seventh to load the bases with none out against reliever Justin Schultheiss. The rookie right-hander induced a sacrifice fly and then two more outs to survive the inning with a 10-run lead, at 13-3. XU scored four times in the eighth inning to cut the difference to 13-7. The combination of UC lefty Adam Calez and righty Jake Geglein was needed to close the door and secure the win.
UC and XU face off for the third and final time of the 2008 season on Wednesday night at Marge Schott Stadium. The cross-town matchup is set to get underway at 6:30 p.m.
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