TicketsApril 25, 2012
CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati baseball team fell to crosstown rival Xavier University 7-4 in 10 innings Wednesday evening at a rainy Marge Schott Stadium.
With the score knotted at 4-4 in the top of the 10th inning, the Musketeers (20-23) plated three runs to pull away from the Bearcats. XU left fielder Daniel Rod led off with a triple to center field. After UC (13-29) freshman right-hander Ryan Atkinson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) induced a groundball out and struck out the next batter, Xavier shortstop Patrick Paligraf singled through the left side for an RBI.
Two batters later, XU catcher Derek Hasenbeck singled to right center field to drive in Paligraf. Designated hitter Selby Chidemo, who reached on a two-out walk, scored from third base on a wild pitch to make the score 7-4.
Cincinnati held leads of 3-2 through three innings and 4-3 through 7 2-3 innings, but were unable to hold off two Xavier late-inning rallies.
The Bearcats were led offensively by freshman third baseman Joey Bielek (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chapparal), who went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a home run, and sophomore outfielder Justin Glass (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll), who went 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Cincinnati reclaimed the lead with one run in the bottom of the fifth inning to go up 4-3. Sophomore second baseman Ryan Quinn (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) hit a one-out single and scored two batters later when Glass doubled down the right-field line.
UC freshman RHP Grant Walker (Brookeville, Ohio/Northmont) pitched a scoreless sixth inning and was relieved by senior lefty Cory Hough (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro) after walking the first two batters in the seventh.
Xavier knotted the score at 4-4 in the top of the eighth. Pinch hitter Seth Dawes led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on Rod's sacrifice bunt. After Hough struck out second baseman Michael Moore for the second out of the inning, center fielder Mark Elwell singled up the middle allowing Dawes to score from second by sliding under the outreached mitt of UC catcher Braden Kline (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community) at home plate.
UC freshman right-hander Art Warren (Stryker, Ohio/Napoleon) made his second start of the season and allowed three runs on seven hits in four innings pitched.
Junior righty Andrew Strenge (Yardley, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) relieved Warren in the fifth inning after a 30-minute rain delay and tossed a scoreless frame with two strikeouts.
UC took the lead in the bottom of the third inning with one swing of the bat from Bielek, who crushed a 1-2 pitch past the left-field fence into Sheakley Lawn for a three-run home run; the first longball of Bielek's collegiate career. Senior first baseman Nic Spence (Victoria, Australia/St. Joseph's/Central Arizona CC), who led off the frame with a single to left field, and sophomore Ethan McAlpine (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller), who hit a pinch-hit single, both scored on Bielek's longball.
Xavier tied the score at 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning. Rod led off with a single and advanced to second on Moore's sacrifice bunt. Paligraf drove in Rod two batters later with an RBI single to right field.
The Musketeers built a two-run lead after scoring one run in the top of the second inning. Moore hit a one-out single. Elwell struck out. Paligraf was hit by a pitch. Chidemo lined an RBI single that scored Moore before Paligraf was thrown out at third base.
Xavier wasted little time getting on the scoreboard after plating one runner in the top of the first inning. Paligraf, Selby Chidemo and Hasenbeck all led off the inning with singles to load the bases with no outs. Warren struck out third baseman Tres Eberhardt for out No. 1. Warren induced right fielder Mitch Elliot into a potential inning-ending double play groundball, but Elliot beat Jackson's throw and Paligraf crossed home plate for an RBI fielder's choice that gave XU a 1-0 lead.
Cincinnati resumes BIG EAST Conference action 6:30 p.m. Friday when the Bearcats open a three-game series against Rutgers University at Marge Schott Stadium.