TicketsMarch 7, 2013
EASTERN MICHIGAN at CINCINNATI
Marge Schott Stadium - Cincinnati, Ohio
Friday, March 8 - 4 p.m. ET | Watch Live
Saturday, March 9 - 1 p.m. ET | Watch Live
Sunday, March 10 - 1 p.m. ET | Watch Live
SETTING THE SCENE
-The University of Cincinnati baseball team plays host to Eastern Michigan University in a three-game nonconference series Friday through Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium.
-UC has won four consecutive ballgames after starting the season 0-5.
-Freshman infielder Forrest Perron was named to the weekly BIG EAST Conference Honor Roll on Monday for his performance in three games against New York Tech last weekend.
-All three games vs. Eastern Michigan will be video streamed live on GoBEARCATS.com (subscription required).
-Live stats via GameTracker will be provided on GoBearcats.com.
-Follow the Bearcats baseball program on Twitter @UCincyBaseball and @CoachClearyUC.
NOW PITCHING FOR UC ...
-In the series opener on Friday, UC will hand the ball to senior RHP Andrew Strenge, who is looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued junior season.
-Strenge was was the team's No. 1 starter for the first four weeks of the season before missing at least three potential starts due to shoulder fatigue. Before the injury, he boasted a 2.33 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 19.1 innings pitched while holding opponents to just a .203 batting average.
-The Yardley, Pa. native has taken the mound three games this season, producing a 6.75 ERA with four walks and 14 strikeouts in 12 innings.
-In Strenge's last start against New York Tech, he surrendered just two earned runs in a season-best five innings while striking out six for the second consecutive game.
-Game 2 of the Eastern Michigan series will feature redshirt freshman Connor Walsh, who will made his collegiate debut on Sunday, Feb. 17 at FAU after sitting out the entire 2012 season due to arm surgery. Walsh allowed three earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and three walks in 3 2-3 innings at FAU.
-In his most recent start on March 3 vs. New York Tech, Walsh pitched just 2 1-3 innings, allowing two runs, with three strikeouts and three walks.
-Sunday's starting pitcher for the Bearcats is to be determined.
OPPONENT BREAKDOWN
-Eastern Michigan went 25-31 in 2012, including a 14-13 mark in the Mid-American Conference, which was good for a sixth-place overall league finish.
-EMU was picked by the MAC coaches to finish third in the West Division in 2013.
-EMU returns 20 letterwinners from last season, including six starting position players.
-Sr. RHP Neil Butara was nominated to the MAC weekly awards this past week. He was a key part of EMU's 6-4 series-opening win over Kansas on Friday. Over seven innings, he gave up just one run and scattered seven hits against a KU lineup which entered the weekend hitting .333 as a team. He racked up five strikeouts in the process.
THE SERIES VERSUS EASTERN MICHIGAN
-Friday's ballgame will mark the seventh meeting between Cincinnati and Eastern Michigan.
-The Bearcats and Eagles first played in 1974. Their last game took place in 1983.
Eastern Michigan: 3-3
Year Date Site Result
1974 5/7 H W, 4-1
1975 4/15 A W, 10-2
1976 4/4 H L, 4-0
1976 4/4 H L, 11-0
1983 4/24 H L, 1-0
1983 4/24 H W, 3-1