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CINCINNATI - Junior starting pitcher Andrew Zellner (Farmersville, Ohio/Valley View) threw his fourth complete game of the season in a 3-1 loss to American Athletic Conference foe Houston on Friday night at Marge Schott Stadium. Houston's Seth Romero also threw a complete game for the Cougars, his second of the year.
// Notables
- Cincinnati falls to 22-26-1 on the year and 10-8-1 in The American while Houston improves to 30-19 and 9-9.
- Zellner (6-4) took the loss and Romero (5-4) earned the victory.
- It was Zellner's fourth complete game of the season as he becomes the first UC players to start and finish four games in a season since Dan Osterbrock threw five complete games in 2008.
- It was the Bearcats' seventh complete game of the season as sophomore J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) has thrown two complete games and sophomore David Orndorff (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena Polytechnic) has one.
- Zellner's complete game comes one game after Orndorff earned his first-career complete game on May 8 at UCF. They become the first UC tandem to throw back-to-back complete games since Grant Walker and Connor Walsh did so on April 9 and 11, 2014.
- Sophomore Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) singled in the first inning to extend his on-base streak to 16 games and his hitting streak to 10 games. His hitting streak began with a five-hit performance against Memphis on April 23.
- Mottice led the team with a pair of hits, his team-leading 11th multi-hit game of the season.
- Sophomore Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) recorded his team-leading 32nd RBI of the season to rank him sixth in the league.
- Houston was picked as league favorite in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' poll.
// Key Innings
Bottom of the First
A single by Mottice got things started for the Bearcats and senior Woody Wallace (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy) laid down a bunt single to put two on for Cincinnati. After a fielder's choice by redshirt sophomore Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason), sophomore Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) hit an infield single to load the bases with one out. Noda then grounded out to the second baseman but it was enough to score Wallace from third and give UC a 1-0 lead.
Top of the Seventh
After Connor Wong drew a leadoff walk, Justin Montemayor launched a 2-run homerun over the fence in right center field to put the Cougars ahead 2-1.
Top of the Eighth
Joe Davis hit his 10th homerun of the season to give Houston a 3-1 advantage and move him into a tie for third in The American.
// Up Next
The Bearcats and the Cougars continue their American Athletic Conference series on Saturday, May 14, with a 6 p.m. first pitch at Marge Schott Stadium. The concession stand will offer $2 hotdogs and the entire team will participate in the final Signature Saturday following the game. Additionally, fans can gain $1 admission when they show their FC Cincinnati ticket at the gate.
// 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
Tickets for the final home matches of 2016 can be purchased at GoBEARCATS.com/tickets or by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX.