TicketsMarch 13, 2011
CINCINNATI - Senior right-handed pitcher Nick Johnson (Delphos, Ohio/St. John's) struck out nine batters in seven innings to lead the University of Cincinnati baseball team to a 5-0 defeat of Cleveland State University on Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium.
Johnson allowed just three hits and no walks to pick up his second win of the season.
Cincinnati's (7-5, 0-0 BIG EAST) first run was set up by sophomore outfielder Jake Proctor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills), who stole second and third base after getting hit by a pitch in the first inning. Senior shortstop Chris Peters (Tipp City, Ohio/Tipp City) drove in Proctor with a groundball to third base, giving UC an early 1-0 lead.
With bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning, freshman OF/DH Justin Glass (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) took advantage of Cleveland State RHP Coty Bates' full windup and stole home to increase Cincinnati's lead to 2-0.
Junior first baseman Nic Spence (Victoria, Australia/St. Joseph's) scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning to give UC its third run. Senior outfielder Justin Riddell (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) followed with a 2-RBI double to centerfield to put the Bearcats ahead 5-0.
Senior RHP Brian Sand (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and freshman RHP Matt Ring (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) each pitched scoreless innings of relief to finish the game and complete Cincinnati's sweep of CSU.
The Bearcats return to action at 4 p.m. ET Friday when they take on Western Michigan University at Marge Schott Stadium.