TicketsFeb. 20, 2011
CLEARWATER, Fla. - On the final day of the 2011 BIG EAST/Big Ten Baseball Challenge, the University of Cincinnati lost to Michigan State University 8-4 Sunday at Jack Russell Stadium.
The Bearcats (1-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) found themselves down 4-0 after Michigan State first baseman Jeff Holmes hit a three-run homer to right field off UC starter Nick Johnson (Delphos, Ohio/St. John's) in the bottom of the third inning.
Johnson, who pitched 3.2 innings, allowed four earned runs and struck out two batters, was replaced by junior LHP Brad Mergen (Albany, Minn./Albany/Indian Hills CC).
Cincinnati scored three runs in the sixth inning to make the score 5-4. The rally started when shortstop Chris Peters (Tipp City, Ohio/Tipp City) walked with the bases loaded. On the next at-bat, freshman Justin Glass (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) belted a two-run single to left centerfield.
Glass is hitting .545 (6-for-11) with three RBI and two walks in the first three games of his collegiate career.
Michigan State then scored one run in the bottom of the sixth and added two more runs in the seventh inning to take an 8-4 lead. After eight innings were completed, the game was called due to time constraints.
For the second year in a row the BIG EAST won the Challenge against the Big Ten, winning 14 games to 10. The BIG EAST leads the composite standings 40-38 since 2009.
UC's next game will be at 4 p.m. Friday at No. 5 Clemson University, on the opening day of the First Pitch Invitational in South Carolina.