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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team won its second American Athletic Conference series in as many weeks by beating UConn 3-2 on Saturday night at Marge Schott Stadium. Sophomore J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) picked up his team-leading fourth win of the season with an 8.1 inning performance where he scattered eight hits and did not walk a batter.
The Bearcats only managed two hits in the game but took advantage of six walks and a pair of hit batters from the UConn pitching staff to score a run in the fourth, seventh and eighth innings for the come-from-behind win.
The game also represented Josh Harrison Night at MSS and the team honored the Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star who was in town with the Pirate to play the Cincinnati Reds. Harrison played at UC from 2006-08 and ranks among the top-10 in the UC record book for career batting average (.358), runs scored (192), hits (246), doubles (53), RBIs (153), hit by pitch (35), sacrifice flies (21), stolen bases (63) and on-base percentage (.439).
// Notables
- Cincinnati improved its record at 16-15 on the year and moves to 4-1 in The American while UConn falls to 13-15 and 1-3.
- Perez (4-1) earned the victory while sophomore David Orndorff (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena Polytechnic) picked up his second save of the season after pitching the final two outs of the ball game.
- The team's 4-1 mark in the league puts it on top of The American standings. It also is the best start to a conference season for UC since opening the slate at 7-1 against BIG EAST competition in 2008.
- The Bearcats won a game with two or fewer hits for the first time since at least the 2001 season.
- It was the second time this season, and the second-consecutive Saturday, that the Bearcats pitching staff did not walk a batter. Perez started both of those games for Cincinnati.
- UC stole five bases in the game, including two each by redshirt sophomore Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and sophomore Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant). It is the seventh time this season the team has swiped at least four bags in a game.
- The last four UC victories have all been by one run. The Bearcats beat UConn 3-2 in the opening game of the series and topped USF by scores of 4-3 and 3-2 last weekend.
// Key Innings
Top of the Fourth
Keith Krueger led off the inning for UConn with a double to right field and moved to third on a bunt single by Willy Yahn. One out later, Joe Deroche-Duffin sent a ball deep to centerfield that sophomore Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) caught on a spectacular diving play, but Krueger tagged up at third to score the game's first run. A single through the right side scored another run for the Huskies before a flyout finally ended the damage.
Bottom of the Fourth
Sophomore Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) reached on an error to open the frame and moved to second on a bunt single by McVey. A well-executed sacrifice bunt by Noda moved both runners into scoring position and a wild pitch brought home Rodriguez to get the Bearcats on the board.
Bottom of the Seventh
Haberkorn was hit by a pitch to leadoff the frame and a fielder's choice by junior R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) put him at second after a fielding error by the UConn second baseman. Senior Devin Wenzel (Blandon, Pa./Fleetwood Area) attempted a sacrifice bunt but a close play saw Haberkorn out at third. A wild pitch sent both runners into scoring position before a walk to freshman Vince Augustine (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) loaded the bases with only 1 out. Sophomore Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) brought home the game-tying run with a groundout for a 2-2 score.
Bottom of the Eighth
With one out, McVey was hit to put the go-ahead run on base in the bottom of the eighth inning. He then proceeded to steal second and third base and scored the winning run on a perfectly-executed safety squeeze by senior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) to give the Bearcats a 3-2 lead and complete the UC comeback.
Top of the Ninth
Perez worked one out before allowing a single to Tyler Gnesda and being lifted for Orndorff. Gnesda was replaced by a pinch runner but Wallace caught him stealing at second base to clear the bases and push the Huskies to their final out. The next batter grounded the ball back to Orndorff who tossed to Noda to give the Bearcats the win.
// Up Next
The Bearcats will go for the series sweep over UConn on Sunday, April 10. The game will start at 1 p.m. from Marge Schott Stadium.
// 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.