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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team came up short in a 7-5 loss to Memphis in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams, Friday at Marge Schott Stadium.
Cincinnati (12-13, 0-1 American) trailed 7-1 in the third inning but battled back to within two after scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and bottom of the eighth inning. Memphis (17-8, 1-0 American) got a career-long pitching performance out of starter Alex Hicks who went 7.2 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out four. Hicks is 4-1 on the season and Tigers closer Colton Hathcock pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his ninth save of the season.
Andrew Zellner (Farmersville, Ohio/Valley View) took the loss, dropping his record to 2-2 in 2017. Zellner breezed through the first two innings, sitting down six Memphis batters in a row, but gave up a leadoff walk, a single and a bunt single in no man's land to load the bases with no outs. At the end of the innings, Memphis had totaled all seven runs it posted in the game on six hits and UC was down 7-1.
Tristan Hammans (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial), Nathan Kroger (Loveland, Ohio/Milford) and Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) pitched six innings of scoreless relief, giving up five hits, striking out four and keeping the Bearcats in the game.
Offensively, Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) each had a pair of hits while Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) had a hit and a pair of RBIs. Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) hit a run-scoring double, continuing his hot hitting of late.
// NOTABLE
· Memphis leads the all-time series 69-31, but UC holds a 10-7 edge since both teams joined the American Athletic Conference in 2014. Memphis series-opening win was the first for the Tigers over the Bearcats since 2004.
· Zellner's three-inning stint was his shortest of the 2017 season and his fewest innings pitched in a start since February 20, 2015, at Santa Clara, breaking a streak of 28-consecutive starts going 4.0 innings or more.
· Noda has hit safely in eight-straight games, dating back to Northeastern on March 18, 2017.
· Kroger has pitched 7.1 innings of scoreless relief in four appearances out of the bullpen, scattering four hits.
· Hammans made his sixth appearance out of the pen and has surrendered a single run on 10 hits in 2017.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the First
UC struck early, plating a single run in the first frame. A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) hit a one-out single and advanced to second on a throwing error. McVey lined out to center field. Thompson singled up the middle to score Bumpass. Noda drew a two-out walk, but Santiago struck out swinging.
Top of the Third
Zellner had retired the first six batters in a row before running into trouble in the third. He walked Schritenthal on a 3-2 count and Santana singled through the left side. Neel bunted into no man's land to load the bases. Webb reached on a fielder's choice and Schritenthal was thrown out at home trying to score. Grudzielanek singled to right and scored Santana. Bowman hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Neal, Trela singled to left field to score Webb and both later advanced on a passed ball. Turner doubled off the wall in left-center to score Grudzielanek. Carrier homered to right and Schritenthal grounded out to end the inning with Memphis holding a 7-1 lead.
Bottom of the Third
UC got a pair back in the bottom of the third. McVey hit a one-out single to left field and later stole second, his team-leading fifth swipe of the season. Thompson singled to left and later advanced to second on a wild pitch with McVey on third. Noda struck out swinging ahead of Santiago singling to left to score McVey and Thompson. Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) hit a field choice and Santiago was thrown out at second to end the inning with the score Memphis 7, Cincinnati 3.
Top of the Sixth
Memphis loaded the bases with one out to chase Hammans from the game. Kroger came in and induced a ground out into an inning-ending double play.
Bottom of the Eighth
UC added a pair to pull within two at 7-5. McVey hit a one-out double to left center and advanced to third on a Thompson ground out. Noda hit a bloop double down the right-field line to score McVey. Santiago was hit by a pitch and pinch-hitter Cole Murphy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) drew a 3-2 walk to load the bases. Pinch hitter Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) was hit by a pitch on a 3-2 count and Noda scored. Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) grounded out to end the inning.
// UP NEXT
UC and Memphis continue a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium. Saturday's game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. ET first pitch. A pair of left-handers will square off on the mound with J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) going for the Bearcats and Drew Crosby toeing the rubber for Memphis. Perez is 1-4 with a 4.29 ERA while Crosby is 4-0 with a 3.16 ERA. Sunday's 1 p.m. first pitch features Memphis RHP Connor Alexander against a TBA starter for the Bearcats.
// PROMOTIONS
It's MLB jersey weekend. Anyone wearing an MLB jersey will get $1 off the purchase of a single-game ticket. Signature Saturday is also on tap with a postgame trading card giveaway and select Bearcats on the concourse signing autographs postgame. Sunday is family day. For $20, families get four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and have the chance to run the bases after the game.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio and video coverage of Saturday and Sunday's games will be available through the BearcatsTV platform on GoBEARCATS.com. Matt Noonan (play-by-play) will call the action.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
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.