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TAMPA, Florida - The University of Cincinnati baseball team scored seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings and got solid pitching from the bullpen in a 9-4 win over USF, in an American Athletic Conference game, Thursday at USF Baseball Stadium.
Cincinnati (17-16, 3-4) won its third straight and snapped USF's five-game home winning streak. The Bulls dropped to 28-6 and 4-3 in league play.
Trailing 3-2 entering the top of the sixth, Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) hit the first pitch he saw high and deep over the fence in right-center field for his sixth home run of the year. The Bearcats would add two more runs with smart base running and advantage of two USF errors. Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) crossed the plate on a one-out grounder the short by Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo). The ball looked like a tailor-made, double-play ball, but the shortstop's throw to second ended up in right field, allowing Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) to score and giving the Bearcats a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish.
UC added four in the seventh as USF committed another pair of costly errors. Noda was hit by a pitch and later scored on a fielder's choice by Mercer. Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) laid down a squeeze bunt with runners on first and third and the throw home was high, enabling Mottice to score. After Thomas and Mercer advanced on a passed ball to second and third, respectively, Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) hit a sacrifice fly to center and Mercer scored. Haberkorn reached on a two-out error by the shortstop and Thomas scored.
The Bearcats scored single runs earlier in the game. In the third, a one-out, RBI single by R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) scored Rodriguez and a single down the left-field line from Mercer in the fourth scored Noda.
Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) picked up his second-consecutive win with 2.2 innings of no-hit relief. The reliever also got the win at Ohio State on Tuesday. After a run scored in the fifth on a dropped strike three and throwing error by Thomas, Yoakam and Cam Alldred (Batavia, Ohio/Cincinnati Country Day) combined to retire 11-straight batters until USF's David Villar hit a two-out double in the ninth.
USF starter Phoenix Sanders took the loss, his first of the season. He went 5.1 innings and struck out a pair, but gave up five runs on five hits. UC starter Andrew Zellner (Farmersville, Ohio/Valley View) walked three and gave up two runs and three hits in 2.0 innings of work. Tristan Hammans (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) relieved, putting in 2.1 innings of work. He surrendered a single run on two hits with two strikeouts and three walks before giving way to Yoakam.
// NOTABLE
· The UC-USF series will run Thursday-Saturday due to Easter this coming Sunday.
· UC snapped a seven-game losing streak in Tampa and have won three straight over USF, dating back to last season.
· Bumpass had a hit and a walk and has reached base in 29 straight games.
· Mercer has eight hits and seven runs batted in over UC's last five games.
· Noda's six home runs this season match his 2016 output. The junior hit seven in 2015 and has 19 round-trippers in his career.
· Haberkorn has totaled seven hits, three doubles and eight runs batted in over the past six games.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the Second
USF put two on the board in the second to open up an early lead. Dietrich led off with a walk and Montgomery singled through the right side. Dietrich was thrown out a third on a fielder's choice by Zach for the first out. Merrell walked on a 3-2 count to load the bases and Montes drew a walk to plate the first run of the night. Borders reached on a fielder's choice, Montes was out at second, but Zech scored. Genord flew out to to leave two runners stranded.
Top of the Third
UC got one back in the third. Rodriguez led off with a double to left and Thompson hit a one-out single up the middle to score Rodriguez.
Top of the Fourth
The Bearcats added another run in the fourth to knot things up at 2-2. Noda led off with a walk and Santiago hit a sacrifice bunt to third to advance Noda. Mercer singled down the right-field line to score Noda from second.
Bottom of the Fifth
USF re-claimed the lead in the fifth with a single run. Chatfield drew a leadoff walk and after a Dietrich out to right, Hammans was lifted for Yoakam. Montgomery walked on a 3-2 count and Zech grounded out to advance the runners. Merrell was intentionally walked. Montes struck out but reached on a passed ball, which scored Chatfield. Borders flew out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Top of the Sixth
UC brought home three runs on a long ball by Noda and heads-up base running on a throwing error, taking a 5-3 advantage. Noda hit the first pitch he saw high and over the fence in right-center field. Mottice drew a walk, Mercer bunted and reached on a throwing error, which put Mottice on third. Mercer moved to second on a sac fly by Thomas. Sanders was pulled for Cavallaro. Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mottice scored on Haberkorn's grounder to short. The throw to second ended up in right field and the error scored Mercer, moved Rodriguez to third and allowed Haberkorn to reach on a fielder's choice. Thompson flew out to short and Bumpass fouled out to first to close the frame.
Top of the Seventh
Four runs crossed the plate in the seventh to put UC up 9-3. Noda was hit by a pitch with one out and a Mottice double down the right-field line moved Noda to third. Cavallaro came out of the game for Savarese. Noda crossed the plate on a fielder's choice by Mercer. Thomas laid down a bunt and Mottice scored on a throwing error by the pitcher. Thomas and Mercer advanced on a passed ball. Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to center and scored Mercer. Haberkorn reached on an error and Thomas scored, but Haberkorn was thrown out trying to advance to second to end the inning.
// UP NEXT
UC continues a four-game road and a three-game set with USF on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. The two teams will close out the series with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio coverage of UC's weekend series at USF 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 visitGoBEARCATS.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, visitGoBEARCATS.com/tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.