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STORRS, Conn. -- The University of Cincinnati baseball team was tied at 4-4 with UConn before the Huskies scored a run in the sixth and four runs in the seventh to take a 9-4 game on Sunday afternoon in Storrs, Connecticut.
Freshman Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) led the Cincinnati offensive effort with two hits and two RBIs.
// NOTABLES
- With the loss, Cincinnati falls to 15-35 on the year and 6-15 in the American Athletic Conference while UConn moves to 32-20 and 11-10.
-Cincinnati relief pitcher Tanner Schimmoeller (Ottawa, Ohio/Ottawa-Glandorf) (1-2) took the loss while UConn starter Jordan Tabakman (3-4) earned the win.
- Junior Ian Happ (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Lebanon) was walked in the ninth inning and now has 125 career free bases to sit at 3rd on the all-time UC list.
- Happ stole second base in the ninth inning for his 54th-career stolen base. The mark is good for fifth all-time and the junior needs seven more to tie Troy Muckerheide (1992-95) for fourth in the UC record book.
- Head coach Ty Neal penciled six freshmen into the starting lineup and has started at least four youngsters in each game this season. Freshman Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) has started every game for UC.
- Schimmoeller pitched 4.0 innings of relief, sitting down the first eight batters he faced before allowing a double in the sixth inning.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the First
UConn took an early 3-0 lead when hits by Vinny Sienna and Bobby Melley put two runners on for Blake Davey who blasted his sixth homerun of the season over the right field fence.
Top of the Third
The Bearcats rallied to score four runs and take a 4-3 lead in the third inning. Chris Klenk (Portage, Ind./Portage) was walked to lead off the frame and moved to second on a single by junior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy). Freshman Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) executed a sacrifice bunt to move the runners before the first two runs came in on a single through the right side by Mottice. A fielding error by the Huskies put two runners on and Happ made them pay with a double to left field that scored Mottice and freshman Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) and put the Bearcats ahead 4-3.
Bottom of the Third
UConn wasted no time tying the game when Melley hit an RBI-double to score Sienna who was on base after a leadoff walk by Orndorff. An additional walk put two runners on base but Schimmoeller enntered to get Willy Yahn to line out to left field and keep the Huskies from taking the lead.
Bottom of the Sixth
Huskies broke the tie in the sixth inning when a single by Jon Testani scored Joe Deroche-Duffin to give UConn a 5-4 lead. Schimmoeller then walked back-to-back batters to load the bases with two outs, but struck out Sienna, who led the American with 81 hits entering today's game, to end the threat.
Bottom of the Seventh
UConn scored four runs on two hits with three hit batsmen in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach for the Bearcats with a 9-4 lead.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati returns to Marge Schott Stadium for the final four games of the regular season, beginning with a midweek matchup against crosstown rival Xavier on Tuesday, May 12. First pitch against the Musketeers is at 6 p.m. as the Bearcats look for the season sweep over XU.
The Bearcats will wrap up the regular season with a three-game series against East Carolina May 14, 15 and 16. UC will honor Ryan Atkinson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain), the team's lone senior, in a pregame ceremony on Friday and will retire the number of former UC baseball great Kevin Youkilis prior to the game 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/tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.
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