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OXFORD, Ohio – The University of Cincinnati baseball team fell 8-5 to Xavier University on Wednesday night in the final game of the 2016 Joe Nuxhall Classic. UC held a three-run lead in the seventh but gave up four runs in the frame to surrender the victory.
Sophomore Kyle Mottice led Cincinnati with three hits and two runs scored, both matching career high numbers.
// Notables
- Cincinnati falls to 16-18 on the year while Xavier improves to 12-22.
- Colton Cleary (Nicholasville, Ky./Lexington Catholic) (1-1) took the loss out of the bullpen while XU's Greg Jacknewitz (1-6) earned the win and Garrett Schilling picked up the save.
- Freshman Garrett Zoukis (Reston, Va./Landon) made first-career start at third base after making his collegiate debut in the game vs. Wright State on Tuesday.
- Freshman Cal Jarrett (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) made his first-career start on the mound.
- Mottice (three), redshirt sophomore Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) (two) and sophomore Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) (two) all finished with multiple hits.
- The Bearcats are now 8-8 all-time in eight seasons of the Joe Nuxhall Classic.
- UC and XU evened the season series at 2-2. The Bearcats won a pair of games vs. the Musketeers at Marge Schott Stadium on March 25 but lost on March 26 at Xavier.
// Key Innings
Bottom of the First
Making his first-career start on the mound, Jarrett walked the first two batters and gave up an RBI-double before even recording an out. The freshman settled in, striking out Xavier's Joe Gellenback before the defense got him out of the jam. Senior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) made a sliding catch in shallow right field and while it was enough to score the second run, the Bearcats teamed up to tag a runner out and end the inning.
Top of the Third
Three straight singles by Mottice, sophomore Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) and McVey loaded the bases with one out. Noda then stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch triple into the right field corner to empty the bases and give UC a 3-2 lead.
Top of the Sixth
Freshman Mason DeAnna (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/St. Edward) reached on a dropped third strike and made the Musketeers pay when he came around to score on a Mottice triple for a 5-2 UC lead.
Bottom of the Sixth
A two-out single by Andre Jernigan brought home a run before a two-RBI triple by Chris Givin tied the game at 5-5. A UC throwing error then brought home the go-ahead run for Xavier with a 6-5 lead.
Top of the Seventh
Singles by Noda and Wallace and a walk drawn by Alldred loaded the bases with 1 out for the Bearcats. Pinch hitter freshman Vince Augustine (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) then hit a deep fly ball that brought home Noda but the run was disallowed because Wallace was thrown out at third before Noda crossed the plate.
// THE JOE NUXHALL CLASSIC
- 2016 marks the eighth-annual Joe Nuxhall Classic after the tournament originated in 2009 to honor its namesake, the legendary Reds player and announcer, Joe Nuxhall.
- Cincinnati, Miami, Wright State and Xavier have participated in every installment of the Joe Nuxhall Classic.
- The Bearcats have won the tournament three times, with the latest coming in 2014, the last time it was hosted at Miami University.
- Wright State also has won the championship three times, including the 2015 season over UC at Marge Schott Stadium.
- Xavier won the inaugural Joe Nuxhall Classic, topping WSU in a game at Cincinnati.
- Joe Nuxhall Classic Champion | Runner Up | Host
2009 – Xavier University | Wright State University | Host
2010 – University of Cincinnati | Miami University | Miami University
2011 – University of Cincinnati | Wright State University | University of Cincinnati
2012 – Wright State University | Miami University | Miami University
2013 – Wright State University | University of Cincinnati | University of Cincinnati
2014 – University of Cincinnati | Miami University | Miami University
2015 – Wright State University | University of Cincinnati | University of Cincinnati
- Nuxhall became the youngest player to ever appear in an MLB game when he took the mound for the Reds in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Crosley Field on June 10, 1944, at the age of 15.
- He played for 16 years in the major leagues and immediately upon retiring began a 40-year broadcasting career with the Reds.
// Up Next
The Bearcats travel to New Orleans, Louisiana, to take on the Tulane Green Wave in a three-game series April 15-17. UC sits alone atop The American standings with a 4-2 record in conference play while Tulane sits half a game back with a 3-2 mark.
// 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.