TicketsMay 15, 2011
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team defeated Seton Hall University 7-3 Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium, giving head coach Brian Cleary his 392nd career win, a new all-time UC record.
Up by one run heading into the bottom of the eighth, Cincinnati (28-23, 13-11 BIG EAST) batted around in the inning after collecting five runs on four hits to pull away from Seton Hall (25-23, 11-13 BIG EAST).
Junior LF Braden Kline (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community) led off the eighth with a walk, followed by a bunt single by 2B T.J. Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle). A throwing error by SHU catcher Frank Esposito on a sacrifice bunt from 1B Nic Spence (Victoria, Australia/St. Joseph's) gave UC bases loaded and no outs, setting up junior catcher Jake Saylor's (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) RBI single up the middle and scoring Kline from third.
Two batters later, senior shortstop Chris Peters (Tippy City, Ohio/Tipp City) hit a one-out RBI single to the shortstop that scored pinch runner Ronald Cotton (Florence, Ky./Boone County).
With the bases still loaded, the following batter sophomore CF Jake Proctor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) was hit by pitch, allowing Spence to cross home plate. Freshman DH Justin Glass (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) then hit a bases-load sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Kline from third.
In the next at-bat, senior RF Justin Riddell (Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic) hit an infield single to the shortstop that drove in Peters and gave UC a 7-1 lead.
Sophomore right-hander Andrew Strenge (Yardley, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) picked up his fourth win of the season after allowing just two unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.
Cincinnati took an early lead with two outs in the bottom of the first when Glass slugged a double down the left-field line. The next batter Riddell hit a two-out single up the middle of the infield to drive in Glass and give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.
UC starting pitcher Nick Johnson (Delphos, Ohio/St. John's) was relieved with one out in the top of the fourth after issuing his seventh walk, giving Seton Hall runners on the corners. The senior right-handed pitcher ended the game allowing one earned run on two hits, seven walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.
Strenge entered the game for Johnson and surrendered a sacrifice fly to shortstop A.J. Rubarsky that tied the score 1-1.
Riddell led off the bottom of the sixth with a double off the wall in straightaway center field. He advanced to third and home on two wild pitches, allowing Cincinnati to regain the lead at 2-1.
The Pirates produced two unearned runs in the top of the ninth to make the final score 7-3.
Cleary's 392nd win surpassed UC legend Glenn Sample's 391 career victories set from 1961-1981.
Cincinnati continues its season-ending seven-game homestand when it hosts Butler University at 6:30 p.m. ET Tuesday at Marge Schott Stadium.