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DAYTON, Ohio -- Junior Ian Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) collected two hits with two RBIs to lead the Bearcats in a 5-3 loss at Wright State on Tuesday evening in Dayton, Ohio.
The Bearcats offense struggled throughout much of the game, failing to record a run until the eighth inning when it registered two hits and scored three times to attempt a late-game comeback. Happ led the charge in the inning, notching his second single of the day to score both Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) and Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) and put Cincinnatin on the board.
//NOTABLES
- With the loss, Cincinnati falls to 6-20 while Wright State improves to 19-7.
- Starting pitcher Mitch Patishall (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) (0-2) took the look while the Raiders' Jeremy Randolph (4-0) 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 Rodriguez have started every game for UC.
- Happ's single in the fourth inning extended his on-base streak to 24 consecutive games.
- It marked Happ's first multi-hit game since March 21 at Nevada.
- Freshman Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) hit a single in the seventh inning for his third hit in his last four games.
- The game was the last of a nine-game road swing for the Bearcats. UC will return to Marge Schott Stadium on Thursday, April 2, for the first time in three weeks.
- Wright State is currently receiving votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association national poll.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the Second
After a leadoff walk was eliminated by Wallace on a cought stealing, Patishall walked three additional batters to load the bases with two outs. WSU's Mitch Roman singles up the middle to score two runs before Patishall was lifted for redshirt sophomore Colton Cleary (Nicholasville, Ky./Lexington Catholic). Another single by Andrew McCafferty scored the third run of the inning before a popup ended the inning.
Top of the Fourth
The Bearcats recorded their first two hits of the game with singles by Jake Richmond (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and Happ to put two runners on. A failed pickoff by the WSU catcher sent Richmond to third but the designated hitter Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) grounded into a double play to end the UC scoring threat.
Bottom of the Fourth
The Raiders tacked on an insurance run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly by John Brodner to take a 4-0 lead.
Top of the Eighth
The Bearcats finally found the offense in the eighth inning to score three runs and cut the Raiders lead to 5-3. Wallace was hit by a pitch and Rodriguez beat out an infield single to put two runners on base. Two batters later, Noda was walked to load the bases before Happ hit his second single of the day to score the first two Cincinnati runs. In the next at bat, Yoakam legged out what could have been a double play but was safe at first to score Noda who never stopped running from second base and beat the throw at the plate.
//UP NEXT
Cincinnati heads back to Marge Schott Stadium for the first time in three weeks when it hosts American Athletic Conference rival UCF for a three-game series April 2-4. The games will be played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this weekend due to the Easter holiday with games at 6 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday and at Noon on Saturday.
//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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