TicketsApril 3, 2012
ATHENS, Ohio - Head coach Brian Cleary earned his 405th career victory to move atop the University of Cincinnati baseball win chart after freshman right-hander Ryan Atkinson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) pitched seven shutout innings and struck out 11 batters to lead the Bearcats to an 11-2 win over Ohio University Tuesday evening at Bob Wren Stadium.
Cleary's 405 career victories surpasses Bearcats hall-of-famer and longtime Cincinnati Reds official scorekeeper Glenn Sample, who recorded 404 career wins during his UC head-coaching tenure from 1961-81, which included 13 victories during the autumn season.
Making his first collegiate start, Atkinson stymied the Bobcats offense with an array of overhand breaking balls and crisp fastballs as Ohio (13-15, 3-3 MAC) managed just three hits off the former Colerain Cardinal. Atkinson, whose 11 strikeouts are the most for a Cincinnati pitcher since April 30, 2010, when Nick Johnson recorded 11 Ks against West Virginia University, did not issue a walk Tuesday.
UC (11-16, 1-6 BIG EAST) sophomore second baseman Ryan Quinn (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) led the UC offense after recording three hits and three RBIs, both career highs. Junior center fielder Jake Proctor (Cincinnati, Ohio) tied his single-game career bests with three runs scored and three hits.
The Bearcats wasted little time in taking the lead after plating two runs in the first inning. After Proctor and sophomore shortstop Matt Williams (Mason, Ohio/Cincinnati Hills Christian) led off the game with back-to-back singles, sophomore right fielder Justin Glass (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) drove home Proctor with a single of his own. Williams scored on freshman third baseman Joey Bielek's (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chapparal) groundball double-play.
Cincinnati pulled away with four runs in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead. Proctor led off with a single, stole second base and advanced to third on a single to first base by Glass. Proctor then scored from third on a wild pitch by Ohio starter Scott White, who lasted just 2 1/3 innings before getting was pulled for sophomore RHP Tyler Stage. The next two batters walked, allowing Glass to stroll to home from third base. Quinn then hit a two-RBI single to drive the Bearcats fifth and sixth runs.
UC added three runs in the fourth inning to bump its lead to 9-0 thanks to RBIs from Bielek, senior designated hitter T.J. Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle) and Quinn.
The Bobcats gift wrapped two runs for the Bearcats in the seventh inning when Quinn and senior first baseman Kiley Jones (Louisville, Ky./Easton) each scored on wild pitches.
Senior right-hander Sam Vandenheuvel pitched the final two innings for the Bearcats, struck out two batters and allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth.
The Bearcats will resume BIG EAST Conference play 6:30 p.m. Thursday when it plays host to University of South Florida in a three-game series at Marge Schott Stadium.