TicketsGame 1 - PDF Box Score
Game 2 - PDF Box Score
HOUSTON -- Despite a career pitching performance from senior Ryan Atkinson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) in the opening game, the University of Cincinnati baseball team dropped both games of a Saturday doubleheader against No. 25 Houston in Houston, Texas. Cincinnati lost 4-1 in the first game and 13-0 in the second.
Atkinson tied a career high with 7.1 innings pitched and tossed a no-hitter through 5.1 innings against the 25th ranked team. It wasn't until Chris Iriart's league-leading 12th homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning that Houston recorded a hit, giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
The Bearcats tried to help Atkinson's cause, tying the score in the top of the eighth inning, but Houston came back with three runs for the win.
// NOTABLES
- With the two losses, Cincinnati falls to 12-25 and 4-9 in the American while Houston improves to 25-14 and 6-5.
- In game one, Atkinson and moved to 3-4 on the year. Houston reliever Patrick Weigel earned the win and improved to 4-0.
- In game two, UC starting pitcher David Orndorff (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena Polytechnic) took the loss and falls to 1-2 while UH starting pitcher Kyle Dowdy (5-1) earned the win with a complete game, two-hit performance.
- In addition to his lengthy no-hit bid, Atkinson recorded five strikeouts to just three walks.
- Sophomore R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) singled in the first game to extend his on base streak to 16 straight games. He did not appear on base in the second game, snapping the streak at 16, the second-longest such streak for a UC player this season.
- Junior catcher Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) recorded a single in the first game to extend his hitting streak to a team-high seven games. He did not produce a hit in the second game, snapping his streak at seven games, the second-longest such streak for a UC player this season.
- Happ drew a walk in the first game and now has 113 career free passes. He currently ranks 6th on the all-time UC list and needs four more to tie for 5th all-time with Matt Primack (1993-96).
- Cincinnati pitchers walked a season-high 15 batters in the second game.
- Head coach Ty Neal penciled four 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 (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) Rodriguez have started every game for UC.
- Freshman T.J. Galenti (Stillwater, Minn./IMG Academy) made his collegiate debut on the mound for the Bearcats in the seventh inning of the second game and recorded two strikeouts without allowing a hit.
- Noda made his collegiate debut on the mound in the eighth inning of the second game, sending the Cougars down in order with three popups.
// KEY INNINGS -- Game 1
Bottom of the Sixth
Houston broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh when Chris Iriart hit his league-leading 12th homerun of the season just over the left field fence. It was the first hit of the day for the Cougars.
Top of the Eighth
Cincinnati got on the board with a two-out rally in the eighth inning. With a runner on first, junior Devin Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area) rocketed a double to the left field corner to score sophomore Jake Richmond (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) and tie the score at 1-1. The next batter, freshman Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) singled but Wenzel was caught in a rundown on his way home to end the inning.
Bottom of the Eighth
Houston immediately responded with a double and a bunt single to put runners on the corners with no outs in the eighth. A sacrifice fly by Josh Vidales scored a run to put Houston back ahead 2-1 before freshman Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) entered to pitch for Cincinnati. A fielding error scored the third run for the Cougars and a bases-loaded walk made the score 4-1 before a groundout finally ended the inning.
// KEY INNINGS -- Game 2
Bottom of the Second
The Cougars broke through early in the second game, scoring a pair of runs off three hits in the second inning. Connor Wong started the action with a double into left field and scored three batters later on a single up the middle by Corey Julks. Zac Taylor then doubled to bring home the second UH run before a Thompson to Rodriguez to Thomas relay gunned out a runner at the plate to end the inning.
Bottom of the Fifth
A bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch scored a pair of runs before a grand slam by Jacob Campbell gave Houston a 12-0 lead in the fifth.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and Houston play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday, April 19, in Houston, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for Noon CT/1 p.m. ET from Cougar Field.
// 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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