TicketsMay 20, 2010
CINCINNATI - Senior Jimmy Jacquot blasted a three-run, ninth-inning home run to tie the game at four, before senior Kevin Johnson ended the game in dramatic fashion with a three-run, walk-off home run later in the ninth inning giving the University of Cincinnati baseball team a 7-4 come-from-behind win in the second game its Thursday doubleheader versus Georgetown at Marge Scott Stadium.
The win secured a berth in the BIG EAST Championships for the Bearcats, marking the third straight season that UC has advanced to the conference tournament. Cincinnati also inched its overall record above .500 at 28-27, while moving its conference record to 12-14.
Similar to Game 1, Cincinnati fell behind early when the Hoyas strung together three consecutive one-out hits in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead .
Georgetown added another run in the fifth inning courtesy of a RBI double from Erick Fernandez, but UC responded in its half of the fifth with its first run of the contest. With runners on first and second base with one out, junior Justin Riddell looked to have grounded into a double play, but after the Georgetown third baseman stepped on third base for the force out, he made an errant throw to first base allowing Jacquot to score all the way from first base, cutting the deficit in half.
A run in the sixth and ninth innings from the Hoyas widened their lead to three runs, 4-1, giving Cincinnati just three outs to make a comeback. To start the bottom of the ninth, senior Jamel Scott lined a zero balls, two strikes pitch down the right field line for a double and remained at second following a junior Chris Peters infield single. After a fielder's choice eliminated Scott and third base but kept runners on first and second base, Jacquot crushed a homer to left field knotting the score at four. Following a ground out, sophomore Kendal Coleman and sophomore Braden Kline walked giving Johnson a chance to end the game with a hit. With the count at two balls and two strikes, Johnson hit a deep home run just inside the right-field foul pole giving UC the walk-off win.
Sophomore Cory Hough improved to 2-0 on the season after giving up four hits, two runs, striking out four, and walking one in four innings of relief.
Jacquot finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles, a home run, and three RBI. Johnson and Peters were the other two Bearcats to register multi-hit games with Johnson also driving in three runs.
Cincinnati has yet to have their seed determined for the upcoming 2010 BIG EAST Baseball Championships, which will be held May 26-30 at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Fla., the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, St. John's, USF, Rutgers and now Cincinnati have punched their tickets to the tournament, while West Virginia, Villanova, and Notre Dame are competing for the final spot.
The Hoyas and Bearcats conclude their three-game series on Friday, May 21, at 6:30 p.m. at Marge Schott Stadium. Friday will be Armed Forces Night and ESPN 1530 Night at the Ballpark. For fans that mention that they heard about ESPN 1530 Night at the Ballpark on ESPN 1530, tickets will be $1 and $1 hot dogs will be sold at the concession stand.