TicketsMay 11, 2010
CINCINNATI - A five-run fifth inning by the Miami University RedHawks proved to be the difference as the University of Cincinnati baseball team dropped the opener of its two-day, mid-week home-and-home series with the RedHawks, 7-4, Tuesday evening at Marge Schott Stadium.
The loss dropped UC to 25-24 overall, while Miami (OH) inched above .500 at 24-23.
Miami's Adam Eaton got the RedHawks off to a quick start with a lead-off double and following a strike out, he stole third base and scored on a throwing error. Following another strikeout, Jordan Jankowski hit a home run to right-center field, increasing the Miami lead to 2-0 before Cincinnati took an at-bat.
MU looked to add to its lead with the bases loaded and one out in the second inning, but freshman Zach Isler forced a pop out and a ground out to get out of the inning unscathed.
In UC's half of the second, sophomore T.J. Jones reached base on a one-out walk before hustling to third base on a bloop double down the left-field line off the bat of senior Kevin Johnson. With two runners in scoring position, freshman Jake Proctor put down a safety squeeze and on the play, Jones snuck under the tag by the Miami catcher to score UC's first run and cut its deficit in half, 2-1. However, a strike out and a foul out ensued, leaving the RedHawks on top, 2-1, after two innings.
After a scoreless third and fourth innings, Miami exploded for five runs in the fifth inning, four of which coming on a three-run home run by Kyle Weldon and a solo home run by Kevin Bower, expanding the RedHawks lead to 7-1.
UC retaliated with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and it all started with a single through the left side by Proctor. After two outs, Proctor stood at second base, but junior Chris Peters doubled down the left field line to plate UC's first run of the inning. Senior Jimmy Jacquot followed with a single through the right side that scored Peters from second, cutting the UC deficit to 7-3.
Jacquot started off the eighth inning with a double down the left field line, his second hit of the game, and moved ninety feet from home plate on a ground out. Sophomore Kendal Coleman closed the Bearcats deficit to three runs, 7-4, with a RBI double down the right field line, while putting another run in scoring position. Coleman moved to third on a ground out, but a strike out ended the threat and UC went to the ninth inning trailing 7-4.
In the ninth, Miami's Jordan Jankowski gave up a hit, but struck out the three other Bearcats batters he faced giving the RedHawks the win.
Peters, Jacquot, and Proctor each registered two hits to lead UC.
The Bearcats and RedHawks reconvene on Wednesday, May 12, at 6 p.m. at McKie Field at Hayden Park on the campus of Miami University.