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ATHENS, Ga. - Freshman A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) launched his first-career homerun as the Bearcats fell 3-2 to the University of South Alabama on Sunday afternoon in Athens, Georgia. The game came down to the final at bat but Cincinnati could not come away with the victory.
// Notables
- Cincinnati fell to 0-6 on the year while South Alabama improves to 6-1.
-Sophomore reliever A.J. Olasz (West Mifflin, Ohio/West Mifflin Area) took the loss after a solid pitching performance to go to 0-1 on the season. USA's Austin Bembnowski (1-0) earned the win.
- Bumpass recorded his first-career homerun in the third inning to tie the score at 2-2.
- Sophomore Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) finished with two hits and had consecutive multi-hit games for just the second time in his career (April 11-12, 2015, vs, Memphis).
- After snapping a nine-game hit streak in last night's game, senior Devin Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area) finished with a pair of hits.
- Redshirt freshman Cameron Ross (Hebron, Ky./Conner) recorded a career-high three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work on the mound for the Bearcats.
- The Cincinnati pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts, a new team high this year.
- It was the third time in the first six games of the season that a game has come down to the final at bat. Cincinnati is 0-3 in those games.
- South Alabama is receiving votes in the NCBWA and USA Today Coaches' Polls.
// Key Innings
Top of the Third
The Jaguars opened up an early 2-0 lead in the third inning, thanks to a 2-run homerun that Adam Wolfe hit over the left field fence with no outs. With just one out and a pair of runners on, Olasz entered to pitch, fighting through a long at bat before inducing a ground ball that infielders Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson), Rodriguez and Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) turned into a double play to end the damage.
Bottom of the Third
Cincinnati didn't waste any time tying the score at 2-2, in similar fashion to how USA scored in the top of the inning. Junior R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) led off the frame with a single up the middle and was followed by Bumpass who blasted his first-career homerun over the wall in center field to bring his team even with the Jaguars.
Top of the Seventh
USA regained a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning. With a runner on second and two outs, Olasz walked one batter and hit another to load the bases. Sophomore Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) entered the game and surrendered a single through the right side that scored Jason Cryar for what would be the winning run. With the bases still loaded, Rodriguez snagged a liner to end the damage and keep the Bearcats in the game.
Top of the Ninth
Ross, in his third-career appearance, needed just 12 pitches to strike out the side in the top of the ninth inning and give the Bearcats a chance to win it in the bottom half of the frame.
Bottom of the Ninth
The Bearcats threatened to either tie or win the game in the bottom of the ninth when Wenzel and McVey opened the inning with back-to-back singles to put two runners on. With one out, sophomore Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) moved Wenzel to third with a flyout, but the Bearcats could not bring him home, falling 3-2.
// Up Next
The Bearcats begin midweek action on Wednesday, March 2, when they travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. The game will be played at 4 p.m.
// 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 (@GoBearcatsBASE) and Coach Neal (@Ty_Neal_UC) on twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Facebook.
// Ticket Information
Season tickets for all 25 home matches can be purchased for as little $15. For more information, visit GoBEARCATS.com/tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.