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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with Northern Kentucky, winning game three 13-7 and earning a series win at Marge Schott Stadium.
A six-run fourth inning for Cincinnati (12-11) blew the game open and the Bearcats knocked 14 hits in the win. Seven pitchers saw action for UC with Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) picking up the win after 1.2 innings in relief. The Norse dropped to 8-13 on the season.
A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) and Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) combined for five hits and 8 RBIs, plating four apiece. Bumpass added a home run and a double while Santiago tallied a double and a triple.
Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) and Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) each had two hits and two runs scored and Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) had a pair of RBIs.
// NOTABLE
- Jordan Ramey (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) made his collegiate debut for UC and picked up his first career hit and run scored.
- Bumpass hit .429 for the NKU series, going 6-for-14 with two doubles, a triple, home run and eight RBIs.
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the First
NKU got on the board first for the third-straight game. Ganns homered to the roof of Fifth Third Arena to give the Norse a 1-0 lead.
Bottom of the Second
UC knotted things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Noda led off with a single and Santiago tripled to the right-field corner to score him.
Bottom of the Fourth
The Bearcats offense exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth, opening a 7-1 lead. Noda was hit by a pitch and Santiago walked. An sacrifice bunt advanced the runners and a sacrifice fly by Thomas tagged up Noda for the first run. Rodriguez singled to center to score Santiago. Ramey picked up his first collegiate hit, singling through the left side. Bumpass homered to right-center field to clear the bases. McVey walked and later stole second. Thompson doubled to left field to score McVey and Noda struck out to end the inning.
Bottom of the Fifth
UC added a run to its tally in the bottom of the fifth following a double to left by Thomas which scored Alldred, who singled to right field to get on base.
Top of the Sixth
NKU plated its second run after loading up the bases with one out. Mercurio doubled to left field, Moffatt walked and Colletta was hit by pitch. Mercurio scored on a wild pitch to make the score 9-2.
Bottom of the Sixth
McVey reached on an error, Thompson walked and Noda singled to load the bases. Santiago grounded out to short, scoring McVey and giving UC a 9-2 lead.
Bottom of the Seventh
Thomas reached on an error and Rodriguez singled to right center to advance him to third. After a Ramey strikeout, Bumpass singled through the right side to score Thomas. A McVey pop out went for the second out and the runners both moved up on a wild pitch. Thompson and Noda drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and then score Rodriguez. Santiago doubled to right center to score Bumpass and Thompson and flew out to end the inning. UC extended its lead to 13-2.
Top of the Eighth
Amann drew a one-out walk and Paradis' first collegiate hit went for a home run over the left-field fence to make the margin 13-4 in favor of the Bearcats.
Top of the Ninth
NKU added three more runs to its total in the top of the ninth. Alas had a leadoff walk and Mercurio singled to left center. Pilat hit a double to center, Alas scored and Mercurio was gunned down at the plate by a Noda-Rodriguez-Thomas relay. Amann walked and Paradis doubled to right center to plate Pilat and Amann to close out the scoring on the day.
// UP NEXT
UC will head on the road Tuesday, traveling to Kentucky for a 6:30 p.m. ET matchup with the Wildcats. The Bearcats knocked off UK, 2-1, in 10 innings on Wednesday, March 8, at Marge Schott Stadium. Live audio will be available at GoBEARCATS.com.
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For all 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 24 home games can be purchased for as little $15. For more information, visit GoBEARCATS.com/tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.