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Game 1 PDF Box Score
Game 2 PDF Box Score
CINCINNATI- The University of Cincinnati baseball team came out even in a Saturday doubleheader against the University of Toledo at Marge Schott Stadium. Cincinnati dropped the opening game 8-5 in 11 innings before bouncing back for a 5-3 victory in the nightcap.
The two starting pitchers shined on the mound and at the plate for Cincinnati. Freshman southpaw Dalton Lehnen (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) created his own victory in the second game, breaking a 2-2 tie with his first-career hit, a two-run homerun over the right field fence to give his team a 4-2 lead. Sophomore Andrew Zellner (Farmersville, Ohio/Farmersville) was walked and scored his first-career run in the first game of the day.
Junior catcher Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) put his stamp on the offense, collecting five hits in two games with two RBIs and two runs scored.
//NOTABLES
- After splitting the two games, Cincinnati is now 5-11 on the season while Toledo moves to 5-12.
- In game one, freshman Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) (1-2) recorded the loss for the Bearcats while Toledo's Adam Tyson (1-0) grabbed the win. In game two, Lehnen notched his first-career victory (1-3) while TU starting pitcher Steven Calhoun (0-3) took the loss and senior Ryan Atkinson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) earned his first-career save.
- Head coach Ty Neal penciled five freshmen into the starting lineup for game one and six for game two, and has started at least four youngsters in each game this season. Freshmen Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) and Manny Rodriguez Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) have started all 13 games for UC.
- Junior Ian Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) stole two bases in the opening game to give him 49 in his career, moving him into a sixth-place tie in the UC record book. He currently sits with Chris Peters (2008-11) and is three away from moving into fifth place with Pat Maginn (1965-67).
- Wallace had a career day at the plate, recording three and two hits, respectively. The catcher also tied a career high with two runs scored in the first game.
- Freshman Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) tied a career high with two hits in the first game while setting a career best with two RBIs.
- Zellner's 6.2 innings in the first game were a season high for the sophomore.
- Lehnen's 6.1 innings in the second game tied a career-high, while his four hits, two runs and one earned run were all career-lows.
- Freshman Connor Van Caughterty (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) earned his first-career RBI with a sacrifice fly in the first game.
- Freshman Chris Klenk (Portage, Ind./Portage) had a career-high two hits in the second game.
- Freshman Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) collected three hits on the day, including his third-career homerun which went over the scoreboard in the second game.
- Cincinnati turned three double plays in the first game, bringing its total to 16 on the season.
//KEY INNINGS - GAME 1
Bottom of the Seventh
Trailing 1-0, Cincinnati pushed three runs across in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 3-1 lead. Freshman J.J. Carr (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) and Zellner were walked to lead off the inning before an RBI-single by Wallace scored Carr. Two batters later, Mottice's single into right field scored Zellner and Wallace for the UC lead.
Top of the Ninth
The Bearcats were one out away from a victory before a pair of fielding errors on one play scored two runs to tie the game at 3-3. The next Rockets' batter singled to bring in another run and put Toledo ahead 4-3.
Bottom of the Ninth
Facing a do-or-die ninth inning, Cincinnati managed to tie the score and force extras. With Klenk sitting on third base, Van Caugherty entered to pinch hit and knocked in his first-career RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Top of the 11th
After a scoreless 10th inning from both teams, Toledo broke through for four runs to give the Rockets an insurmountable lead.
// KEY INNINGS - GAME 2
Bottom of the First
Klenk, Noda and Happ recorded three consecutive singles to lead off the inning before a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by junior Devin Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area) scored the game's first run. Two batters later, Woody Wallace singled through the left side to bring home Noda for a 2-0 UC lead.
Bottom of the Sixth
Toledo used a run in the third and fifth innings to tie the score at 2-2, but Lehnen helped his own cause in the sixth with his homerun. With Wenzel on first base, Lehnen fought off pitch after pitch before sending the 10th pitch of the at-bat over the fence in right field.
Bottom of the Seventh
Noda added an insurance run in the seventh with his third-career homerun which sailed over the scoreboard in right center.
//UP NEXT
Cincinnati and Toledo will play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday, March 15, with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Marge Schott Stadium. The game will be the seventh consecutive home game for the Bearcats.
//FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati baseball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati baseball (@UCincyBaseball) and Coach Neal (@Ty_Neal_UC) on twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Facebook.
//TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for all 23 home matches can be purchased for as little $10. For more information, visit GoBEARCATS.com/ticketsor call 1-877-CATS-TIX.
-GoBEARCATS.com-