Tickets
STORRS, CONN. - The University of Cincinnati baseball team made a late-innings comeback for the second-straight but came up short in a 6-4 loss at UConn, Saturday in American Athletic Conference action at J.O. Christian Field.
UC (21-21, 6-8 American) trailed 4-1 heading into the seventh, scoring one but giving up two runs in the bottom of the frame before adding two more in the top of the eighth for the eventual 6-4 margin. In the series opener yesterday, the Bearcats scored five runs in the ninth to earn a 5-4 win.
The Bearcats had taken an early 1-0 lead in the second, but UConn (23-18, 8-6 American) scored a pair in the fourth to claim a lead they would not surrender. Huskies starter Mason Feole got the win, throwing 6.1 innings and giving up two runs on nine hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Reliever Ryan Radue gave up two runs in 0.2 innings of work, but Trevor Holmes and John Russell, who earned his 12th save of the season, shut the door in the final 2.1 innings.
UC had its chances with double-digit hits (12) and runners left on base (12) for the second-straight game. The Bearcats had the bases loaded in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning.
Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) led the way after a 3-for-5 day at the plate with a double and RBI. R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) was on base four times for the second-straight game and finished 2-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) was 2-for-4 with a walk and stolen base.
Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) drove in two runs and had a hit and Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) finished with a hit, stolen base, RBI and a sacrifice fly. Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) drew two walks along with a hit and run scored.
UC starter A.J. Kullman (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) took the loss, evening his record at 5-5 this season. Kullman went 4.0 innings, giving up three runs on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) relieved and threw 2.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and A.J. Olasz (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin Area) walked one in the final 1.2 innings of the game.
// INNINGS OF NOTE
Top of the Second
UC got on the board first to lead 1-0 after 1.5 innings. Noda led off with a single and advanced to second on a bunt by Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond). Noda stole third and scored on a passed ball. After a Mercer ground out, Thomas and Manny Rodriguez hit back-to-back two-out singles to right field, but Haberkorn struck out swinging to leave two on the base paths.
Bottom of the Fourth
UConn added a pair to take a 2-1 lead on the strength of Issac Feldstein's second home run of the series. Zac Susi led off with a single and Feldstein hit pitch from Kullman to right field.
Bottom of the Fifth
The Huskies extended the lead to 4-2 in the fifth. Conor Moriarty led off with a walk and Yoakam came in for Kullman and put two outs on the board. Willy Yahn doubled down the left-field line to score Moriarty. Susi was next up and he singled up the middle to score Yahn.
Top of the Sixth
McVey led off and stole second. Santiago reached on a fielder's choice and McVey was out at third. Mercer doubled down the left field line and UC had runners at second and third with two outs. Thomas walked to load the bases, but Rodriguez struck out swinging to leave three stranded.
Top of the Seventh
Thompson hit a one-out single to left, Bumpass walked and Radue relieved . McVey walked to load the bases and Noda hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Thompson. Santiago struck out to end the frame.
Bottom of the Seventh
Anthony Prato led off with a bunt single and Yahn was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Susi struck out swinging. Prato scored on another wild pitch and Yahn took third. Feldstein walked and John Toppa reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Yahn. Tyler Gnesda singled to right to load the bases. Olasz relieved Yoakam and got Winkel to line into an inning-ending double play, but the Huskies now led 6-2.
Top of the Eighth
UC scored two to make it but left two runners aboard. Mercer led off with a single and Thomas walked to chase Radue from the game. Holmes relieved and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Haberkorn singled through the right side to score Mercer and Thomas and Mottice pinch ran for Rodriguez. Both runners advanced on a balk and Russell relieved Holmes. Bumpass struck out and McVey into a 1-2-3 double play to end the Bearcats threat.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats and Huskies will close out the series with a Sunday series finale starting at noon.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio coverage of the weekend series at UConn will be available 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
Single-game tickets are just $5 for adults, $3 for youth and seniors, and $1 for groups of 20 or more. For tickets, call 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit GoBEARCATS.com/tickets.