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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Cincinnati baseball team fell 9-4 to Memphis, Friday in a weekend American Athletic Conference series opener at FedEx Park.
Cincinnati (22-23, 6-10 American) struggled to get runners on base with only five hits and six walks and a pair of errors on the defensive side gave Memphis (25-21, 6-10 American) opportunities it capitalized on.
Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) was 1-for-4 with Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) had a double and RBI and Luke Turino (Toronto, Ontario/Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute) had a double. Mason DeAnna (Mason, Ohio/Mason) had a hit and run scored off the bench and A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) drew three walks.
Tigers starter Drew Crosby got the win, throwing 7.0 innings while giving up three runs on three hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
J.T. Perez (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville) took the loss after giving up four runs in the third inning. He finished 2.1 innings, giving up five runs, but only three earned, on six hits with a strikeout and walk to fall to 2-6 on the season. Reese Robinson )Dayton, Ohio/Centerville) pitched a pair of innings, striking out three and giving up a run and Nathan Kroger (Loveland, Ohio/Milford) pitched the final 3.2 innings, striking out three and surrendering three runs on five hits.
// INNINGS OF NOTE
Bottom of the First
Memphis put one on the board after Brendon Grudzielanek hit a two-out single to left that scored Chris Carrier. Grudzielanek was picked off at first on the play to end the inning.
Bottom of the Third
Memphis moved out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth on the strength of a three-run home run by Carrier. Zach Schritenthal led off with a walk, Tyler Webb reached on an error mishandling a bunt and Carrier hit the first pitch he saw over the fence. After a ground out, Alec Trela singled and Perez was pulled for Robinson. Robinson got the first out on a fly out, but Jason Santana walked and Kyle O'Keefe doubled down the left-field line to score Trela. Robinson struck out Carlos Williams to end the inning.
Top of the Fifth
UC pulled within 5-3 in its half of the fifth, getting to the Tigers for three runs. Turino doubled the first pitch he saw into right center and DeAnna hit an infield single to short to move Turino to third. DeAnna later took second on a wild pitch as Augustine struck out. Noda cleared the bases with a triple to right field, scoring Turino and DeAnna. Thompson hit an RBI ground out to short to score Noda, but Bumpass struck out to end the frame.
Bottom of the Fifth
Memphis added a pair to lead 7-3 after five. Webb hit a two-out single to short to score O'Keefe and Colton Neel later scored on a passed ball.
Bottom of the Seventh
The Tigers struck for two more in the eighth, making the lead 9-3. Schritenthal singled to center to score O'Keefe and Carrier singled to short to score Neel.
Top of the Eighth
UC added one back in the eighth to make the score 9-4. Thompson hit a one-out single to center and later took second on a wild pitch. Bumpass walked and McVey doubled to center field to score Thompson.
// UP NEXT
UC continues a three-game series against Memphis on Saturday and Sunday at FedEx Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
// HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live audio coverage of the Memphis series is 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.