TicketsMarch 12, 2011
CINCINNATI - Senior outfielder Justin Riddell (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) had a career-high 5 RBI to lead the University of Cincinnati baseball team to a 13-1 win over Cleveland State University on Saturday at Marge Schott Stadium.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Riddell drove in UC's first run with a groundball to the shortstop, scoring sophomore outfielder Jake Proctor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and tying the game 1-1.
Cincinnati took the lead in the bottom of the second when junior LF T.J. Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) belted his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field, putting the Bearcats ahead 2-1.
Jones' HR proved to be the winning margin after sophomore RHP Andrew Strenge (Yardley, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) pitched six innings, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out six Vikings.
The Bearcats separated from CSU after batting around in the fourth inning and scoring five runs. After junior first baseman Nic Spence (Victoria, Australia/St. Joseph's) walked with bases loaded, Proctor and Riddell each followed with 2-RBI singles to put UC ahead 7-1.
Cincinnati put another five runs on the scoreboard in the fifth inning to increase its lead to a commanding 12-1.
UC left-handed pitchers Brad Mergen (Albany, Minn./Albany) and Thomas Gentile (Westerville, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) pitched the final three innings in relief and combined to strikeout four batters while allowing no runs.
Riddell, who on Monday earned a BIG EAST weekly honorable mention, previously set his career high of 4 RBI on March 10, 2009 against University of Dayton.
The Bearcats conclude their three-game series with Cleveland State at 1 p.m. Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium.