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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati couldn't overcome an early four-run deficit and a late comeback fell short in a 7-5 loss to Memphis in American Athletic Conference action, Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium.
Cincinnati (13-14, 1-2 American) was in a 4-0 hole after the first inning but battled back to get single runs in the third and fifth, a pair of runs in the eighth and a single run in the ninth. Memphis (17-9, 2-1 American) added an insurance run in the sixth and two in the eighth which proved to be the difference-maker.
The two clubs were evenly matched all weekend with UC getting a 4-3, extra-innings victory on Saturday and Memphis earning the series win with 7-5 triumphs on Friday and Sunday. They will meet for a second time this season from May 5-7, 2017, at FedEx Park in Memphis, Tennessee.
Offensively, Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) was 2-for-5 with a double and RBI Eric Santiago (Bethlehem Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) was 2-for-4 with a double, Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) was 1-for-3 with a home run and Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill/Grant) was 1-for-3 with a double.
Reese Robinson (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville) made his first collegiate start for the Bearcats and took the loss. Jarod Yoakam and A.J. Kullman (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty), both pitching for the third time in six days, kept the Bearcats in the game, tossing 7.1 innings in relief. Cam Alldred (Batavia, Ohio/Cincinnati Country Day) and Clayton Colvin (Dublin, Ohio/Jerome) kept the Tigers potent offense at bay late in the game.
Memphis starter Connor Alexander got his fifth win of the year, scattering a pair of runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of work. Seven of the Tigers' 12 hits came from the first three bats in the order.
// NOTABLE
· Memphis leads the all-time series 70-32, but UC holds an 11-8 edge since both teams joined the American Athletic Conference in 2014.
· UC is 9-4 at Marge Schott Stadium in 2017.
· Ryan Noda has hit safely in 10-straight games, dating back to Northeastern on March 18, 2017. He hit .357 over the past four games, with five hits, three doubles, two home runs, six RBIs and five runs scored.
· Bumpass and Noda share the team with seven doubles apiece.
· Thomas hit .429 for the week with six hits and four RBIs.
· Bumpass tallied a .412 mark in four games with seven hits, a pair of doubles and four runs scored.
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the First
Memphis batted through the lineup in the first, plating four runs and chasing Robinson after 25 pitches. Webb led off with a single and later advanced to second after a Grudzielanek strikeout and Trela single. Carrier walked and Bowman doubled down the right-field line to score Webb and Trela. After a Turner walk, Robinson was lifted for Yoakam. Schritenthal singled to right scoring Carrier, and Bowman was thrown out trying to score on a throw from Bumpass to Thomas. Santana singled up the middle to send Turner home and Yoakam struck out Neel swinging to end the inning.
Bottom of the Third
UC got on the board in the third after Haberkorn hit a solo homerun off the scoreboard in right field. He has seven career homers with three coming against Memphis.
Top of the Sixth
Memphis added a run in the sixth after Trela hit a bases-loaded grounder at Cole Murphy, but Neel scored on the play. Neel led off with a walk, Webb was hit by a pitch and Grudzielanek hit a bunt single down the line to load the bases. Yoakam was pulled for Kullman who induced a pair of pop-ups for the final two outs of the inning, stranding three Memphis runners.
Top of the Eighth
Memphis added what turned out to be a pair of critical insurance runs in the eighth. Webb and Grudzielanek had back-to-back singles to open the inning. Trela line out and Webb was thrown out by Thomas trying to steal third. Carrier hit a two-run homer to left field that made the count 7-2 in favor of the Tigers. relieved and hit the first batter he faced, but got a fly out from Tuner to end the inning.
Bottom of the Eighth
Bumpass led off with a double but was called out on interference at third after a McVey strikeout and Thompson fielder's choice. Santiago singled through the left side to advance Thompson to second and Murphy walked on a 3-2 count to load the bases. Smith for Bobo ahead of Thomas singling through the left side to score Thompson and Santiago. Murphy advanced to second and was thrown out trying to get to third base, ending the inning.
Bottom of the Ninth
UC was looking for some ninth-inning magic for the second-straight game and Noda hit a two-out double to left to start the rally. Bumpass singled to right and scored a hustling Noda, but a hard lineout from McVey right to Schritenthal ended the game.
// UP NEXT
UC travels to Oxford, Ohio on Tuesday, April 4, at 6 p.m. ET. This is meeting for the two squads in 2017 with the Bearcats earning a 1-0 win over the RedHawks on March 16 at Marge Schott Stadium.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio coverage of Tuesday's game 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.