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CINCINNATI - Sophomore pitcher J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) tossed a career-high nine strikeouts on Saturday to pace the University of Cincinnati baseball team to a 3-2 victory over USF at Marge Schott Stadium. Facing adverse pitching conditions with sustained winds at 35 miles an hour and wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour, Perez struck out nine batters and did not walk a single USF hitter to put UC in the driver's seat to the victory.
The wind was the main story of the game, aiding in several extra-base hits that would have otherwise been easy fly balls, but the UC pitching tandem of Perez and sophomore Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) responded for 10 strikeouts and no walks to keep the Bulls at bay.
// Notables
- Cincinnati improves to 13-13 on the year and 1-1 in The American while USF falls to 15-12 and 1-1.
- Perez (3-1) earned the win while Yoakam picked up his second save of the season. USF's Brandon Lawson (3-2) took the loss despite pitching a complete game.
- Neither Perez nor Yoakam walked a batter in the game marking the first time this season that the UC pitching staff did not give up a walk. The staff has not given up more than three walks in a game since March 12, spanning 10 games.
- The UC batters only struck out four times in the game.
// Key Innings
Top of the Second
Cameron Montgomery led off the inning with a single, advanced to third on a single by Coco Montes and scored on a groundout by Joe Genord to score the first run of the game for the Bulls.
Bottom of the Fourth
The Bearcats broke through in the fourth inning when sophomore Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) reached on a fielder's choice and senior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) singled to put two runners on. The next batter, sophomore Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall), hit his second-career triple to score both runners and give UC a 2-1 lead.
Bottom of the Fifth
Sophomore Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) singled to lead off the inning and stole second base to get himself in scoring position. Redshirt sophomore Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) then doubled to score Mottice and provide the Bearcats with a much needed insurance run.
Top of the Ninth
A single and back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases with just one out for Yoakam with the Bearcats holding a slim 3-1 lead. A groundout brought home a run for USF but Yoakam flashed his leather to snag a grounder and toss it to Noda for the final out of the game to preserve the 3-2 victory.
// Up Next
The teams will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday, April 3, at Marge Schott Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for noon ET.
// 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.