TicketsApril 17, 2010
CINCINNATI - St. John's University rallied to score three runs in the final two innings to defeat the University of Cincinnati baseball team, 6-4, in the second game of a three-game BIG EAST Conference series Saturday afternoon at Marge Schott Stadium.
Trailing by two runs entering the ninth inning, the Bearcats brought the winning run to the plate in senior Jimmy Jacquot, but a strikeout ended the threat and snapped UC's three-game winning streak.
The loss dropped UC to 18-15 overall and 4-7 in BIG EAST play, while STJ moved to 20-12 overall and 6-5 in league action.
UC took an early lead in the second inning and the damage began on a single off the bat of junior Mikel Huston. Two batters later, junior Justin Riddell doubled down the left field line and the St. John's left fielder made an error trying to field the ball allowing Huston to score all the way from first base and placing UC in front, 1-0.
St. John's responded with a three-spot in the top of the third on a RBI double by Jimmy Parque and a RBI triple by Joe Panik. On Panik's triple, an error on the throw trying to get Panik out at third base went wayward, allowing Panik to score.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, sophomore T.J. Jones reached base on a one-out walk and then went from first to third base on a single through the right side by sophomore Kendal Coleman. Jacquot plated Jones on a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing the Bearcats within one run, 3-2. Coleman moved up to second base on a wild pitch, which proved to be valuable since junior Chris Peters delivered a single to center field scoring Coleman from second and giving Cincinnati the lead back at 4-3.
After a scoreless sixth and seventh innings, the middle of the Red Storm order produced three hits, including the go-ahead RBI single by Greg Hopkins, to score two runs and put St. John's back on top, 5-4.
The Red Storm tacked on an insurance run in the ninth inning, but Cincinnati had the final opportunity to win the game.
Sophomore Cory Hough led off the Bearcat ninth inning with a pinch-hit walk and was then pinch-run for by freshman Jake Proctor. Back-to-back strikeouts brought Coleman to the plate and he extended the game on a single to center field, which moved Proctor from first to third base, bringing the winning run in Jacquot to the plate. Jacquot worked a full count during his at-bat, but struck out swinging to end the game.
Senior Tyler Smith fell to 1-6 on the season, despite going 7.1 innings and giving up five runs, four of which were earned.
Coleman and Peters both collected two hits on the day to lead Cincinnati at the plate.
The rubber match of the three-game series between the Bearcats and Red Storm will be contested on Sunday, April 18, at 1 p.m. at Marge Schott Stadium.