TicketsMay 12, 2012
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. — The University of Cincinnati baseball team fell to Villanova University 7-3 Saturday at Villanova Ballpark.
The Bearcats had a tough overall outing as they committed more errors (five) than hits (three). Six out of seven of Villanova's runs were unearned.
Cincinnati freshman left-hander Zach Morris (Edgewater, Md./DeMatha Catholic) allowed just one earned run (four overall) while striking out eight batters in 5 1-3 innings pitched.
Sophomore outfielder Justin Glass (Fort Wayne, Ind./Carroll) led the UC offense after driving in two runs on his third home run of the season. Senior outfielder T.J. Jones (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle) and senior Braden Kline (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community) also recorded hits, while senior infielder Sam Vandenheuvel (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton/Mesa CC) drove in one run and freshman third baseman Joey Bielek (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chapparal) scored once.
Cincinnati's defense had a letdown in the bottom of the sixth inning as two UC errors afforded Villanova three unearned runs on just one hit and put the Bearcats in a 5-0 hole.
UC pushed across its first run of the ballgame in the top of the seventh inning. Jones led off with a walk and advanced to third on pinch hitter Kline's double to put Bearcats on second and third with no outs. After a strikeout, Vandenheuvel pinched hit for sophomore second baseman Ryan Quinn (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) and drove in Jones on a groundout to third base to make the score 5-1.
Villanova scored two unearned runs in the top of bottom of the seventh inning. With Wildcats on second and third and two outs, an infield error on a groundball to Bielek at third base led to two VU runs and made the score 7-1.
In the top of the eighth inning, Glass belted an 0-1 pitch over the right-field fence for a homer; a two-out, two-run shot the made the score 7-3.
Wildcats starting pitcher Pat Young had a strong outing, allowed one run on one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts in six innings pitched.
Villanova took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. VU second baseman Tyler Sciacca reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a passed ball and then stole third base. Wildcats left fielder Matt Fleishman drove in Sciacca with a two-out RBI single to center field.
The Wildcats doubled their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. VU designated hitter Andrew Geenen struck out swinging on a wild pitch to leadoff the frame, but reached second base on Saylor's errant throw to first base. A sac bunt moved Geenen over to third base. After a walk and a strikeout, Sciacca drove in Geenen with a two-out RBI single to left field.
UC's first hit occurred with two outs in the top of the fourth inning when Jones singled to center field.
The Bearcats and Wildcats will play the rubber match of their three-game BIG EAST Conference series 12:15 p.m. Sunday at Villanova Ballpark, which can be heard live at Villanova.com/allaccess.