TicketsApril 13, 2013
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Freshman right-handed pitcher Mitch Patishall pitched a career-high 6 2-3 innings of one-run, three-hit baseball while striking out two to earn his first collegiate win and lead the University of Cincinnati baseball team to a 3-2 triumph over Rutgers Saturday in Game 2 of a BIG EAST Conference doubleheader at Bainton Field.
Four Bearcats - redshirt sophomore outfielder Ethan McAlpine, freshman shortstop Ian Happ, freshman catcher Russell Clark and junior third baseman Ryan Quinn - recorded multi-hit games for a UC offense that outhit Rutgers 11-4. For Happ and Clark, it marked their second straight games with two hits.
UC got on the board in the top of the first inning. Junior outfielder Justin Glass and Happ hit consecutive two-out singles to right field to put runners on the corners. The two then executed a delayed double steal that baited a throw by RU catcher Jeff Melillo to second base and allowed Glass to score as Happ purposely got caught in a rundown for a 1-0 Bearcats lead.
Cincinnati increased its lead to 2-0 after scoring one run in the third inning. With one out, McAlpine hit an infield single and stole second base. Freshman right fielder Forrest Perron stepped up to the plate and smoked a double to deep left-center field, scoring McAlpine for his 13th RBI of the season.
The Bearcats built their lead to three after scoring a third run in the top of the fourth. Junior designated hitter Brendon Neel led off the frame with a triple to left-center field. Two batters later, New Jersey native Quinn lined a single to left field for an RBI and a 3-0 UC tally.
Rutgers ended Patishall's shutout attempt with a run in the bottom of the sixth. RU shortstop John Jennings led off with a walk and scored two batters later when 2B Nick Favatella hit a one-out triple to right-center. RU's threat ended when Perron caught a fly ball in right field and threw out Favatella at home for an inning-ending 9-2 double play.
Bearcast redshirt sophomore RHP Bryan Chenoweth entered the game for Patishall with a runner on first and two outs in the bottom of the seventh and retired the first batter he faced to preserve UC's two-run lead and close the line on Patishall.
The Scarlet Knights shrunk Cincinnati's lead to one after plating a runner in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, RU 3B Matt Tietz doubled down the left-field line. The next batter Favatella hit a grounder to third baseman Quinn, who misplayed the ball, which it bounced toward shortstop Happ. Tietz, who was running on contact, headed toward home and would have been out if Happ made a stronger throw, but the ball short-hopped catcher Woody Wallace and allowed Tietz to score to make the score 3-2 UC.
UC senior right-hander Andrew Strenge pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his sixth save of the year.
Cincinnati and Rutgers will play the rubber game of the series 1 p.m. Sunday at Bainton Field. UC redshirt junior RHP Christian McElroy (4.67 ERA, 2-3) will make his ninth start of the season and face Rutgers Sr. RHP Charlie Law (6.12, 2-3).