TicketsApril 6, 2012
CINCINNATI - Despite leading 2-1 in the ninth inning and surrendering just six hits in 12 innings, the University of Cincinnati baseball team fell to University of South Florida 3-2 Friday evening at Marge Schott Stadium.
Cincinnati (11-18, 1-7 BIG EAST), which entered the weekend ranked third in the BIG EAST in fielding percentage, allowed three unearned runs after fumbling four errors.
USF scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning. Bulls second baseman Luis Llerena reached on an error to shortstop and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout and a walk, USF third baseman Zac Gilcrease singled in Llerena to make the score 3-2.
UC freshman left-hander Zach Morris (Edgewater, Md./DeMatha Catholic) pitched his second gem in as many starts after the rookie southpaw allowed just one unearned run on three hits and struck out two in seven innings pitched. Morris, who has gone his last 18 1-3 innings without allowing an earned run, was a no decision.
Junior righty Zach Isler (Union, Ky./Covington Catholic) pitched the final five innings of the game for the Bearcats, striking out eight and allowing just three hits, but was credited with his third loss of the year.
South Florida (22-10, 7-1 BIG EAST) took advantage of back-to-back infield errors in the top of the ninth to plate the tying run. A bunt single following the consecutive errors loaded the bases with Bulls with no outs. Junior right-hander Isler struck out pinch hitter Buddy Putnam for the first out of the frame. The 6-foot-5 flamethrower then struck out Bulls catcher Andrew Longley for out No. 2. With a full count and bases loaded, Isler threw ball four low to shortstop Kyle Teaf, which tied the score 2-2, before inducing a grounder to end the inning.
The Bearcats offense was limited to only seven base hits. Senior left fielder Braden Kline (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community) and junior center fielder Jake Proctor (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) each went 1 for 5 with one RBI.
Cincinnati scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead. Kline evened the score at 1-1 after by belting his second home run of the season, a lead-off solo shot down the left-field line. Senior catcher Jake Saylor (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton/Paradise Valley CC) followed with a double to right-center. Sophomore second baseman Ryan Quinn (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) advanced Saylor to third with a single through the left side of the infield. With runners on the corners and one out, Proctor drove in Saylor after legging out a fielder's choice to avoid a double play.
The Bulls scored the first run of the game in the second inning. With one out, USF first baseman Jimmy Falla reached second base on an outfield error. Falla scored two batters later when Longley hit a two-out single to left field that made the score 1-0.
The Bulls and Bearcats will play the finale of their three-game conference series noon Saturday at Marge Schott Stadium.