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TAMPA, Fla. -- The University of Cincinnati baseball team scored three runs in the top of the ninth but could not complete the comeback, falling 8-4 to USF on Friday evening in Tampa, Florida. The game was the first in American Athletic Conference play for both teams.
Junior Devin Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area) hit a bases-loaded 2-RBI single to score freshman Chris Klenk (Portage, Ind./Portage) and sophomore R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) to get the Bearcats within 8-3. Two batters later Junior Ian Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) singled through the right side to score junior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) before being tagged out on his way to second to end the game.
With one out in the ninth, Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) smashed a ball to right field that could have been a three-run homerun if not for a great play by USF right fielder Luke Maglich to rob the freshman of his seventh long ball of the season.
// NOTABLES
- With the loss, Cincinnati falls to 6-17 and 0-1 in the American while USF improves to 18-8 and 1-0.
- Starting pitcher David Orndorff (Pasadena, California/Pasadena Polytechnic) (0-1) took the loss for Cincinnati while USF's Jimmy Herget (5-1) earned the victory.
- Head coach Ty Neal penciled five freshmen into the starting lineup and has started at least four youngsters in each game this season. Freshmen Noda and Manny Rodriguez Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) have started every game for UC.
- Junior Ian Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) was walked once and singled to extend his on-base streak to 21 consecutive games.
- Thompson recorded two hits in the game to lead the Bearcats. It was his third multi-hit game of the season.
- Freshman Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) recorded his second-career hit in as many games.
- Cincinnati struck out 14 times in the game to set a new season-high.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the First
A Cincinnati fielding error on the first play of the game and a subsequent sacrifice bunt put a USF runner on second base. Two batters later. The Bulls' Luke Borders doubled to right center to bring home a run and get USF on the board early with a 1-0 lead.
Bottom of the Fourth
USF scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two runners on, back to back singles by Andres Leal and Austin Lueck scored a pair of runs before Rodriguez's second error of the night scored an additional run. Kevin Merrell singled up the middle for the fourth USF hit of the inning to give the Bulls a 5-0 lead.
Top of the Ninth
The Bearcats attempted a late-game comeback with three runs and three hits in the inning. Klenk was walked to lead off the frame and Thompson's second hit of the day put two runners on. Wallace was hit to load the bases before Wenzel's timely single scored the first two runs. Happ's single brought home another run to cut the lead to 8-4 before being tagged out on his way to second base to end the ball game.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats and the Bulls continue the three-game series on Saturday, March 28, with a 6:30 p.m. start at the USF Baseball Stadium.
// 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/tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.
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