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CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team got a solid start from David Orndorff (Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena Polytechnic) along with solid hitting and base running up and down the lineup in an 11-1 win over Tulane in American Athletic Conference action, Sunday at Marge Schott Stadium.
All nine of Cincinnati's starters scored a run and the offense produced 11 runs on 11 hits, drew eight walks and stole a season-high six bases. Orndorff threw 6.0 innings, giving up one run on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
The game ended in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded after Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) was hit by a pitch, scoring Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and giving the Bearcats (15-16, 2-4 American) a 10-run lead in the seventh inning which ended the series finale, per league rules.
UC trailed 1-0 early after a home run over the center-field fence by Tulane's Hunter Williams in the top of the first inning. The Bearcats took a 2-1 lead in the second after Manny (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) hit an inside-the-park home run and scored Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason). Rodriguez hit the first pitch he saw into the left-field corner and did not stop running until he slid across home plate. The pair also had a strong defensive game with Rodriguez helping turn two double plays and Thomas gunning out a Tulane runner trying to steal second.
A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) had three hits on the day along with run scored and stolen base.
// NOTABLE
· Tulane leads the all-time series 41-10.
· UC is 10-6 at Marge Schott Stadium this season.
· UC had eight or more hits for the eighth-straight game.
· Ryan Noda's (Volo, Ill./Grant) hitting streak came to an end after 13 games
· Noda hit .385 for the week, going 5-for-13 with a double, home run, five walks, three RBIs, three stolen bases and six runs scored.
· Haberkorn closed out the week hitting .375 with six hits, two doubles, two home runs, four runs scored and three RBIs.
· Bumpass, Mercer and Rodriguez all rang up five hits this week and Mercer had a four runs batted in.
· Orndorff made his second appearance of the week and went 6.1 innings in two games, giving up one run on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. He picked up a save at Miami (Ohio) Tuesday and earned the win over Tulane on Sunday.
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the First
Williams hit the first pitch he saw to deep center field, flying the ball over the batter's eye in the deepest part of the ballpark.
Bottom of the Second
UC took a 2-1 lead on Rodriguez's inside-the-park home run which scored Thomas who singled to get on base. It was second career home run and first inside the park effort.
Bottom of the Fourth
UC added a single run to its tally in the fourth after a Thomas double to left center scored Mercer from first base.
Bottom of the Fifth
The Bearcats extended the lead to 6-1 with three runs in the fifth. McVey hit a one-out, bouncing single to third base and Noda was hit by a pitch. Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) singled to left field and scored McVey. Noda and Santiago executed a double steal and Noda scored after Tulane catcher Paul Gazzo's throw to third ended up in left field.
Bottom of the Sixth
UC plated four hits on three runs to lead 10-1 after six innings. Haberkorn led off with a single and R.J. Thompson singled the first pitch he saw into left field to put runners on the corners with no outs. Bumpass doubled to left to score Haberkorn. Thompson scored on a wild pitch and Bumpass advanced to third. McVey popped up and Brandon Issa was pulled for Ted Andrews. Bumpass came home on another wild pitch. Noda walked and stole second. Pinch hitter Kyle Mottice (Canal Fulton, Ohio/Jackson) walked and ball four was a wild pitch, which advanced Noda to third. Mottice stole second and a ground out by Mercer scored Noda.
Bottom of the Seventh
With two outs in the frame, McVey, and Mottice all drew walks on 3-2 counts. Mercer worked the count to 2-2 and was hit by a pitch, scoring McVey and ending the game with the bases full thanks to the American's 10-run rule on a getaway day.
// UP NEXT
UC starts a four-game road trip on Tuesday at Ohio State. First pitch is scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. ET start at Bill Davis Stadium (4,450). The two teams have met annually since 2010 in a series that dates to 1891.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio and video coverage of UC's game at Ohio State 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.