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JONESBORO, Ark. - Junior Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) totaled three hits to lead the University of Cincinnati baseball team in a 5-1 loss at Arkansas State on Saturday afternoon. It was the first multi-hit game of the season for Mottice and is just the third UC player to record three or more hits in 2017.
Freshman Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) recorded the only RBI of the game for Bearcats, doubling home classmate Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) in the seventh inning.
// NOTABLES
- With the loss, Cincinnati moves to 3-6 on the season while Arkansas State goes to 8-4
- Junior starting pitcher J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) took the loss to move to 0-2 on the season after tossing 6.1 innings with four runs and four strikeouts. A-State's Peyton Culbertson (2-1) picked up the victory.
- It was the third-ever meeting between the two teams. Arkansas State won the first game 55 years ago, a 2-0 decision on April 20, 1962, and won 5-4 on in the first game of the series on Friday night.
- Senior R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) did not record a hit in the game for the first time this season. He entered Saturday as one of only four players in the American Athletic Conference to have at least one hit in every game of 2017.
- The Red Wolves recorded six extra-base hits in the game, three doubles and three triples hit by six different players.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the Third
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Red Wolves tacked on two more runs in the third when a triple by Garrett Rucket scored two runners for a 3-0 A-State lead.
Top of the Seventh
UC scored its only run of the game in the seventh inning. Santiago connected on a 2-out single and then covered three bases to score on a double by Mercer.
Bottom of the Seventh
Back-to-back wild pitches moved a runner to third and allowed another A-State run to score to push the home team back ahead 4-1.
// UP NEXT
The series finale between Cincinnati and Arkansas State will be played on Sunday, March 6, with a 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT first pitch.
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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 24 home matches can be purchased for as little $15. For more information, visit GoBEARCATS.com/tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.