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CINCINNATI - Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) put down a game-winning squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th inning to score Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) and give the University of Cincinnati baseball team a 4-3, walk-off, extra-innings win over Memphis in American Athletic Conference action, Saturday at Marge Schott Stadium.
Mercer got on base with a one-out, bunt single of his own and later stole second base. Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) singled to the shortstop to put runners on first and third with one out, setting up Rodriguez game-winning hit.
Cincinnati (13-13, 1-1 American) trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning and faced Colton Hathcock, one of the American's top closers, for the second-straight game. A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) hit a two-out double off the wall in right-center and Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) knocked a single to right field on a 3-2 count to score Bumpass and knot things up. Memphis fell to 17-9 on the season and 1-1 in league play.
A.J. Kullman (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) picked up to win after two-thirds of an inning of relief, moving his record to 4-3. Hathcock took the loss, dropping his record to 1-2 on the year.
J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) pitched a solid five innings in the no-decision, giving up one run on two hits, walking a pair and striking out four. David Orndorff (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena Polytechnic) had 4.1 innings out of the bullpen, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out two.
Bumpass was 3-for-4 on the game with two runs scored and a walk. McVey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks. Thomas was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Rodriguez finished 2-for-5 with an RBI.
// NOTABLE
· Memphis leads the all-time series 69-32, but UC holds an 11-7 edge since both teams joined the American Athletic Conference in 2014.
· UC is 9-3 at Marge Schott Stadium in 2017.
· Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) has hit safely in nine straight games, dating back to Northeastern on March 18, 2017.
· Mercer's stolen base was his fourth of the year second-best mark on the team behind McVey's five swipes.
· Bumpass, McVey and Noda all had in the game and are tied for the team lead with seven apiece.
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the First
Memphis took a 1-0 lead after a double to right field by Alec Trela scored Tyler Webb, who hit a leadoff double of his own to start the game.
Bottom of the Second
UC evened the ledger at 1-1 after a sacrifice fly by Thomas scored Noda from third base. Noda hit a leadoff double to right center to start the scoring threat.
Bottom of the Fifth
The Bearcats took a 2-1 lead after an A.J. Bumpass single led to an error by the right fielder, putting Bumpass on second base with two outs. McVey doubled to right center to plate Bumpass.
Top of the Sixth
Memphis knotted things up at 2-2 in the sixth. Orndorff relieved for Perez and gave up a one-out double to Trela, one of seven Tigers doubles in the game, and anther double to Carrier, which scored Trela.
Bottom of the Seventh
UC loaded the bases with two outs but was not able to push a run across, three of the 10 runners the Bearcats stranded in the game. Bumpass singled to left field, followed by a pair of walks to McVey and R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason), but Noda grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Top of the Eighth
Memphis pulled ahead 3-2 after Carrier's double scored Webb with two outs. Webb had led off with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Grudzielanek. Trela flew out to left ahead of Carrier's strike into right center.
Bottom of the Ninth
UC had some two-out magic of its own to send the game into extra innings. Bumpass got all of a 1-0 pitch from Hathcock, sending it off the upper half of the wall in right center. McVey worked the count to 3-2 and singled to right field. The Tigers' outfielder had trouble with the ball, enabling Bumpass to score and McVey ended up on second. Thompson sent a liner into center field, but it was picked up for the third out of the inning.
Bottom of the 10th
Mercer hit a bunt single to the pitcher and later stole second. Thomas singled to short and Mercer moved up to third. Rodriguez was showing bunt the entire time and sent it down the third-base line and a hustling Mercer slid in for the game-winning run.
// UP NEXT
UC and Memphis conclude a three-game series on Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm. ET and 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. Sunday is 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 Sunday 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.