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GREENVILLE, N.C. - The University of Cincinnati baseball team scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning but could not complete the comeback, falling 6-4 to No. 17 East Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Greenville, North Carolina. The Bearcats won the first game of the series on Friday night to split the first two games and will play the rubber match on Sunday afternoon. Despite the loss, UC remains alone atop the American Athletic Conference standings, a game ahead of the Pirates.
// Notables
- Cincinnati falls to 21-22 on the year and 9-5 in The American while No. 17 East Carolina improves to 27-16 and 8-6.
- Sophomore J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) (5-3) took the loss on the mound while ECU starter Jimmy Boyd (6-3) earned the win. Joe Ingle earned his ninth save of the season after entering in the ninth inning and preserving the 6-4 victory for the Pirates.
- Sophomore Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) singled in the eighth inning and has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games.
- Sophomore Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) singled in the first at bat of the game to extend his on-base streak to 10 games.
- Freshman Cole Murphy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) launched his fourth-career homerun in the ninth inning.
- Perez walked the leadoff batter in the second inning, the first walk he had issued in 39.2 innings of work. He finished with three in the game through 5.1 innings pitched.
// Key Innings
Bottom of the First
After going scoreless in Friday's series opener, the Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Three singles loaded the bases before Perez recorded the second out with a strikeout of ECU's top hitter, Dewanya Williams-Sutton. A bases-loaded hit by pitch brought home the game's first run, but a ball that sophomore centerfielder Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) tracked down in right center field ended the inning to keep the damage at a minimum.
Bottom of the Second
Perez walked the leadoff batter and a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position with no outs. A groundout scored one run before a single to third base scored another for a 3-0 Pirates' lead. Perez teamed with redshirt sophomore third baseman Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) to catch the lead runner stealing for the second out and recorded another strikeout to Williams-Sutton to end the inning.
Bottom of the Sixth
With runners on first and second with one out, Perez's third walk of the day loaded the bases. Sophomore Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) entered from the bullpen and battled through a long at bat by ECU's Zack Mozingo before surrendering a 2-RBI single for a 6-0 ECU lead.
Bottom of the Ninth
Freshman Cam Alldred (Batavia, Ohio/Cincinnati, Country Day) led off the inning with a walk before a double to the left centerfield gap by senior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) scored the first run of the day for Cincinnati. The next batter, senior Devin Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area) singled over the shortstops head to score Wallace and get UC within 6-2. Still with no outs, Murphy stepped to the plate and launched a 2-run homerun over the fence in right field to get the Bearcats within two runs at 6-4. East Carolina then put in its closer Ingle who shut down any chance of a comeback with a foul out, a strikeout and a groundout to preserve the ECU victory.
// Up Next
The teams will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday, May 1, with a Noon start time at Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Bearcats will be searching for their fifth conference series win in as many weeks.
// 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.