Isler Leads Bearcats To Victory

Isler Leads Bearcats To VictoryIsler Leads Bearcats To Victory

May 14, 2011

Box Score

CINCINNATI - Sophomore right-handed pitcher Zach Isler (Union, Ky./Covington Catholic) pitched his first career complete game to lead the University of Cincinnati baseball team past Seton Hall University 3-1 Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader at Marge Schott Stadium.

Isler allowed just one run in the first inning, while striking out two and limiting the Pirates offense to six hits to pick up his fifth win of the season.

Offensively, the Bearcats (27-22, 12-10) were limited to just four hits, heads up base running and a clutch hit from junior first baseman Nic Spence (Victoria, Australia/St. Joseph's) was all Isler needed.

Seton Hall wasted no time getting its offense started. In the top of the first, SHU left fielder Zack Granite hit a leadoff double and scored two batters later when 1B Sean Gusrang lined a single up the middle of the infield to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.

The Bearcats used heads-up base running to plate two runners in the bottom of the first. After senior SS Chris Peters (Tipp City, Ohio/Tipp City) stole third base on a double-steal, an error by Pirates 3B Guiseppe Papaccio on the throw-out attempt allowed Peters to score. With senior RF Justin Riddell (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) on first and freshman DH Justin Glass (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) on third and two outs, UC executed its second-double-steal of the inning. Riddell baited a throw to second base from the catcher, which allowed Glass to steal home and gave Cincinnati a 2-1 advantage.

SHU starting pitcher Joe Dirocco struggled with his control and was relieved by Henry Warner in the bottom of the fifth after walking his eighth batter of the game when Glass drew a leadoff base on balls. Riddell, the first batter to face Warner, singled to left field to give UC runners on the corners. Two batters later, Spence knocked in Glass with a one-out RBI single to right field and increased the Bearcats' lead to 3-1.

Cincinnati and Seton Hall will play the second game of a Saturday doubleheader at approximately 4:30 p.m. Senior right handed pitcher Dan Jensen will get the start for the Bearcats.