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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team knocked a season-best 15 hits, but it was not enough as the Bearcats dropped a 16-8 decision to Tulane, Friday in American Athletic Conference baseball action at Marge Schott Stadium.
Cincinnati (14-15, 1-3 American) fell behind early, giving up eight runs in the first inning, but chipped away all game adding a run in the first, two in the second and five in the bottom of the ninth, but the comeback came up short. Tulane (13-17, 3-1 American) tapped 18 hits in the win.
Treg (Leo, Ind./Leo) continued a strong week with a pair of hits, RBI and a run scored. Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason), Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant), Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) all finished with two hits apiece. Noda, who has a hit in 12-straight games, had a pair of RBIs. A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) closed out the night with a pair of walks, hit, RBI and run scored.
Andrew Zellner (Farmersville, Ohio/Valley View) had the shortest outing of his career, lasting one-third of an inning. He gave up five runs on four hits and walked a batter in 23 pitches. Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) came out of the bullpen early and closed out the first by striking out a pair, but gave up three runs on three hits. Reese Robinson (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville) pitched two innings of scoreless relief, scattering two hits and striking out two. Tristan Hammans (Bakersfield, Calif./Garces Memorial) retired the first nine batters he faced but surrendered eight runs on nine hits in his final three innings.
// NOTABLE
· Tulane leads the all-time series 40-9.
· The Bearcats' five doubles were a season best.
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the First
Tulane jumped on the Bearcats for eight runs in the first inning. Grant Witherspoon led off with a walk and Lex Kaplan hit a double to left field to move Witherspoon to third. Hunter Williams singled to short to score Witherspoon with Kaplan moving to third on a throwing error. Jarret DeHart hit a ground-rule double to left field that went into UC's bullpen and scored Kaplan. Sal Gozzo lined out for the first out of the inning and Hope singled to score Williams, chasing Zellner from the game. Yoakam relieved and struck out Kobi Owen on four pitches. He also struck out Paul Gozzo, but a wild pitch on a swinging strike three scored DeHart. Willsey singled in between a diving McVey and Rodriguez to load the bases. Witherspoon doubled to left center to plate three runs. Kaplan doubled to left center but was thrown out at second by Haberkorn to end the frame.
Bottom of the First
UC got a single run back in the first. R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) led off with a single to left field and Bumpass hit a single of his own to left. McVey hit a sacrifice fly to right to advance Thompson. Noda singled to left to score Thompson. Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) flew out to center field and Bumpass advanced to third, but Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) grounded out to second for the third out.
Bottom of the Second
UC added two more runs in the second. Thomas led off with a single up the middle. Haberkorn hit a one-out single through the right side and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bumpass hit a sacrifice to left and Thomas scored. McVey singled up the middle to score Haberkorn and put Thompson on second, but Noda grounded out to leave a pair stranded.
Top of the Seventh
Hammans had retired the first nine batters he faced entering the seventh inning. He gave up a leadoff walk to Williams, DeHart singled and Sal Gozzo laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Hope hit a three-run homer and Owen and Paul Gozzo popped out and grounded out, respectively to finish the inning.
Top of the Eighth
Kaplan hit a two-out solo home run to right center to add a run to the Green Wave's tally.
Top of the Ninth
Tulane added four in the ninth to pad the lead. Sal Gozzo and Hope hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Pinch hitter Matt Rowland reached on a fielder's choice and Gozzo was out at third on the play. Paul singled to left and scored Hope. Willsey popped up for the second out ahead of Witherspoon doubling to left center to score Rowland and Gozzo. Kaplan hit another double and Witherspoon crossed the plate. Williams grounded out to third to end the inning.
Bottom of the Ninth
The Bearcats bats erupted in the ninth for five runs on four doubles in another furious UC comeback. Bumpass drew a 3-2 leadoff walk and McVey struck out swinging. Noda doubled to left center to score Bumpass. Santiago singled through the left side to put runners on the corners and Mercer hit a sac fly to right, scoring Noda. Mason DeAnna (Olmstead Falls, Ohio/St. Edward) doubled into the left-field corner and Santiago scored. Rodriguez hit a double of his own to left and took third on a throwing error while DeAnna scored. Haberkorn hit UC's third straight double to score Rodriguez, but Thompson flew out to end the threat.
// UP NEXT
The series against Tulane continues Saturday with a 4 p.m. affair on the schedule at Marge Schott Stadium. Saturday is the fourth Signature Saturday of the season with a postgame autograph session and the fourth trading card set of 2017 for the first 200 kids. It is also Zoo Day - get your picture taken with select animals from the Cincinnati Zoo on the concourse from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
// SCHEDULE CHANGE
The Sunday series finale between the Bearcats and Green Wave is now a noon start at Marge Schott Stadium. The game, originally scheduled for 1 p.m. ET changed to accommodate Tulane's travel schedule. Sunday is Family Day. For $20, families can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four 12-ounce fountain drinks. A free youth clinic will take place after the game for registered participants.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio and video coverage of the weekend set against the Green Wave 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, visitGoBEARCATS.com/tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX.