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TAMPA, Fla. -- The University of Cincinnati baseball team entered the seventh inning down 5-4 but allowed 10 runs in the frame to fall to USF 15-4 on Sunday afternoon. According to American Athletic Conference rules, the game ended due to the 10-run rule on get away day.
//NOTABLES
- With the loss, Cincinnati falls to 6-19 and 0-3 in the American while USF improves to 20-8-1 and 3-0.
- Senior Ryan Atkinson (1-3) took the look while USF's Ryan Valdes (3-1) earned the win.
- Head coach Ty Neal penciled four freshmen into the starting lineup 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 every game for UC.
- Junior Ian Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) was walked in the seventh inning to extend his on-base streak to 23 consecutive games.
- R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) recorded two hits for his second-straight multi-hit game and fourth of the season. The sophomore totaled five hits in the three-game series.
- Freshman J.J. Carr (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) notched his fourth-career multi-hit game with two hits against USF.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the First
USF scored first for the third straight game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. A leadoff walk by Dalton Lehnen (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) came back to haunt him as back-to-back singles scored the first run. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly by Buddy Putnam scored a runner from third for a 2-0 USF lead.
Top of the Second
Cincinnati responded immediately, scoring a run to cut the lead to 2-1 in the second. Thompson led off with a single and moved to second on a balk before Carr singled to left field to bring home Thompson and get the Bearcats on the board.
Top of the Fourth
The Bearcats took their first lead of the series after scoring a pair of runs in the fourth. Lehnen was walked to lead off the inning and a well-executed hit and run by Thompson, his fifth hit of the series, put two runners on base with 0 outs. Junior Devin Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over but a USF throwing error scored Lehnen and put Thompson and Wenzel in scoring position. Two batters later, junior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) grounded out to the shortstop to bring home Thompson and give Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.
Bottom of the Fifth
A 2-out, 2-run homerun by Buddy Putnam put the Bulls back in the lead at 4-3.
Bottom of the Seventh
While holding a 5-4 advantage, USF scored 10 runs on just two hits to win the game 15-4. The Bearcats committed two errors in the inning to go with four walks and two hit batsmen. A grand slam by Putnam ended the game.
//UP NEXT
The Bearcats head back to Ohio to conclude a 9-game road swing with a game at Wright State on Tuesday, March 31, at 6:30 p.m. in Dayton, Ohio.
//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.
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