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STORRS, CONN. - For the third-consecutive game, UC mounted a late-innings comeback, but it came up just short in a 3-2 loss at UConn in American Athletic Conference action, Sunday at J.O. Christian Field.
Cincinnati (21-22, 6-9 American) was stymied most of the game by UConn (24-18, 9-6 American) starter Wills Montgomerie. Before giving up back-to-back singles to start the seventh inning, Montgomerie was nearly flawless and held UC's offense, which racked up 25 hits in the first two games of the series, to a single hit. He went 6.0 innings, giving up no runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and three walks.
After chasing Montgomerie from the game with runners on first and second in the seventh, UC started to have some success and loaded the bases with no outs, but was not able to convert any runs.
The Huskies scored in the bottom of the first, added a run in the sixth and a critical insurance run in the eighth to hang on for the win, the third game in the series decided by less than two runs.
The Bearcats scored both of their runs in the ninth and had the tying run on second base with two outs.
Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) led off the ninth with a walk and advanced to third on a single by Luke Turino (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute). Santiago scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) to make the score 3-1 UConn. Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) pinch ran for and advanced to second and later third on an error by the pitcher. After a Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) strikeout, Vince Augustine (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) reached on an error by the second baseman which scored Haberkorn and pulled the Bearcats within one at 3-2. Augustine got into scoring position after stealing second, but UConn's P.J. Poulin closed out a three-inning save by striking out R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) to end the game.
Montgomerie got the win and moved his record to 5-2 on the year while Poulin picked up his first save. Andrew Zellner (Farmersville, Ohio/Valley View) took the loss and fell to 2-4. Zellner was solid after a pair of rocky starts earlier this month. The senior threw 5.0 innings, giving up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Nathan Kroger (Loveland, Ohio/Milford) pitched 2.0 innings and gave up a run on two hits, David Orndorff (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena Polytechnic) gave up a pair of hits in two-thirds of an inning and Cam Alldred (Batavia, Ohio/Cincinnati Country Day) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the eighth.
// NOTABLE
· UC stranded 30 runners in the three-game series.
· Zellner was back on the mound for the first time in 17 days. He missed a start last weekend against East Carolina due to an injury.
· Turino made his first career start and picked up his first two collegiate hits.
· Thompson and Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) both had six hits in the series, leading UC. Thompson had two doubles, two runs scored and three walks while Mercer had a double, run scored and a walk.
· Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) stole three bases in the series and leads the team with nine swipes.
// INNINGS OF NOTE
Bottom of the First
UConn scored first, taking a 1-0 lead after an Issac Feldstein single to left scored Willie Yahn.
Bottom of the Sixth
UConn added a run but stranded two. The first three batters of the inning reached after being hit by a pitch and two walks. A sacrifice fly by Tyler Gnesda scored Yahn to make the score 2-0.
Top of the Seventh
UC loaded the bases after first collegiate hit, a single to right, another single from Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and a walk by Noda. The Bearcats couldn't convert as Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) popped up and Thompson hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.
Bottom of the Eighth
A leadoff walk led to a run scoring as Yahn scored on a 5-4-3 double play. Yahn led off with a walk and Zac Susi singled through the left side. Feldstein hit into the double play, but Yahn was able to cross the plate for the third time. John Toppa hit a two-out single and Gnesda was hit by a pitch. relieved Orndorff and walked Troy Stefanski to load the bases before striking out Aaron Hill on four pitches to leave three stranded.
Top of the Ninth
The Bearcats scored both of their runs in the and had the tying run on second base with two outs. Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) led off the ninth with a walk and advanced to third on a single by Turino. Santiago scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Thomas to make the score 3-1 UConn. Haberkorn pinch ran for and advanced to second and later third on an error by the pitcher. After a Noda strikeout, Augustine reached on an error by the second baseman which scored Haberkorn and pulled the Bearcats within one at 3-2. Augustine got into scoring position after stealing second, but Poulin closed out a three-inning save by striking out Thompson to end the game.
// UP NEXT
UC continues a seven-game road swing away from Marge Schott Stadium at Wright State on Tuesday. The Bearcats and The Bearcats and Raiders meet at 6:30 p.m. ET inside Nischwitz Stadium. UC knocked off WSU 4-2 on April 19 in the second game of the Joe Nuxhall Classic. Cincinnati travels to Memphis to meet the Tigers for a second time this season from May 5-7, 2017, at FedEx Park. Memphis took two of three from UC in the first league series of the year for both teams in early April.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio coverage all four UC games this week 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.