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TAMPA, Florida - The University of Cincinnati baseball team led for most of the game, but four USF home runs spelled the difference in a 4-2 American Athletic Conference loss, Sunday at USF Baseball Stadium.
The Bulls (29-7, 5-4 American) snapped the Bearcats' (18-17, 4-5 American) four-game overall winning streak and four-game streak over USF. UC was done in by the long ball as all four USF scores came via solo home runs.
The Bearcats led 2-1 into the bottom of the seventh when a solo shot by Kevin Merrell knotted things up at 2-2. USF hit back-to-back homers to open the eighth inning as Luke Borders hit his second shot of the game and it was followed by another home run from Joe Genord to make the final count 4-2.
David Orndorff (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena Polytechnic) went 7.2 innings and gave up four home runs, six hits, walked five and struck out five. After giving up a homer in the first, he retired 10-straight batters and pitched well, working out of jams in the fifth and sixth. Orndorff took the loss, dropping to 2-3 on the season. Cam Alldred (Batavia, Ohio/Cincinnati Country Day) came in during the bottom of the eighth and got the last out of the inning.
USF's Joe Cavallaro picked up the win and moved to 3-1 on the season. He threw two innings of no-hit ball and struck out a pair. USF starter Peter Strzelecki gave up five hits and a pair of runs in 4.1 innings of work. He struck out four.
Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) had two hits, including a double, and scored both UC runs. Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) finished 1-for-3 and had two RBIs. R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason), Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) also added hits on the day.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the First
USF jumped on the board first, opening up a 1-0 lead after Luke Borders homered a 1-0 pitch to right field.
Top of the Second
Noda led off with a double to center field. Santiago hit a sacrifice bunt to move Noda to third and the Bearcats' first baseman scored on a Mercer ground out.
Top of the Fourth
UC took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Noda hit a one-out single to first base and later stole second base. Mercer hit a two-out single to plate Noda again and give UC the advantage.
Bottom of the Seventh
USF knotted things up in the seventh with its second home run of the game. With two outs in the frame, Kevin Merrell hit a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right field.
Bottom of the Eighth
USF took a 4-2 lead in the eighth after Orndorff gave up back-to-back home runs. Borders hit his second of the game over the right-field wall and the next batter, Joe Genord, homered to left. Orndorff got the next two batters to ground but walked Montgomery and Chatfield on six-straight pitches and Alldred was summoned from the bullpen. Zech flew out on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.
// UP NEXT
UC returns home this week to play host to the ninth edition of the Joe Nuxhall Classic on April 18-19 at Marge Schott Stadium. UC will open play with Xavier on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. ET before playing either Miami or Wright State on Wednesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. Miami and Wright State will lead off the Classic at 3 p.m. on April 18 and Xavier will play either Miami or Wright State at 3 p.m. on April 19.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live video and audio coverage of UC's games in the Joe Nuxhall Classic 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.