TicketsSAN DIEGO, Calif. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team held on to win a 7-4 contest in ten innings against San Diego in the first game of a double header on Sunday.
Manny Rodriguez hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the tenth to give the Bearcats the advantage.
// NOTABLES
• Kyle Mottice picked up two hits in the top of the order to keep his great pace alive early this season
• Cole Murphy had the biggest hit of the night, putting UC up early with a three-run blast to right field. Murphy started the at-bat down 0-2, battled the count back full and won the matchup with the blast
• Rodriguez joined Mottice and Murphy with two hits on the night
• Treg Haberkorn earned two RBI with a tenth-inning, bases loaded single
• Cam Alldred put together a good start on the mound, going 5.0 innings with five hits, two earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts
• A.J. Kullman followed with 2.2 innings of work, allowing one earned run. He struck out two and also ended an inning with a flashy defensive play
• Jarod Yoakam threw 1.1 scoreless frames to get the win
• Reece Robinson was brilliant to earn the save. He threw just 11 pitches, nine for strikes, and struck out two in the bottom of the tenth.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• San Diego took an early lead on a single, walk and a two-out base hit
Top of the 2nd
• The Toreros lead was short-lived as the Bearcats answered right back. Jace Mercer was hit by a pitch and Rodriguez singled through the left side to put two on base. Murphy got down in a 0-2 count but battle back to make it full. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Murphy blasted a no-doubter over the wall in right field
Bottom of the 4th
• A leadoff double came home to score for San Diego after another Toreros' batter picked up a two-out RBI on a single to left field, making it a one-run game
Top of the 5th
• UC once again responded. Mottice singled to start things off. A fielder's choice, error and walk loaded the bases. Mercer came through with a sacrifice fly to put the Bearcats' lead back at two
Bottom of the 8th
• San Diego made things interesting by tying the game as they scored two runs. Two singles, an error and a sacrifice fly made up the damage
Bottom of the 9th
• UC continued to shine defensively to stay alive late. With a runner on first, a failed pickoff attempt sent the ball flying well beyond first base. Murphy hustled to it and made a spectacular throw across the field to third to get the runner trying to advance. The remarkable play also recorded the second out in the crucial inning. A.J. Bumpass made a great catch in right field to send the game to extras
Top of the 10th
• Bonus baseball began when Connor McVey was hit by a pitch, Bumpass walked and Jace Mercer hustled on a bunt and reached because of an error, loading the bases. A flyout by Rodriguez allowed the go-ahead run to score. With bases loaded again, Haberkorn laced a base hit down the left field line to score two more, adding in some insurance
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Manny Rodriguez hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the top of the tenth to give the Bearcats the advantage.
// NOTABLES
• Kyle Mottice picked up two hits in the top of the order to keep his great pace alive early this season
• Cole Murphy had the biggest hit of the night, putting UC up early with a three-run blast to right field. Murphy started the at-bat down 0-2, battled the count back full and won the matchup with the blast
• Rodriguez joined Mottice and Murphy with two hits on the night
• Treg Haberkorn earned two RBI with a tenth-inning, bases loaded single
• Cam Alldred put together a good start on the mound, going 5.0 innings with five hits, two earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts
• A.J. Kullman followed with 2.2 innings of work, allowing one earned run. He struck out two and also ended an inning with a flashy defensive play
• Jarod Yoakam threw 1.1 scoreless frames to get the win
• Reece Robinson was brilliant to earn the save. He threw just 11 pitches, nine for strikes, and struck out two in the bottom of the tenth.
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• San Diego took an early lead on a single, walk and a two-out base hit
Top of the 2nd
• The Toreros lead was short-lived as the Bearcats answered right back. Jace Mercer was hit by a pitch and Rodriguez singled through the left side to put two on base. Murphy got down in a 0-2 count but battle back to make it full. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Murphy blasted a no-doubter over the wall in right field
Bottom of the 4th
• A leadoff double came home to score for San Diego after another Toreros' batter picked up a two-out RBI on a single to left field, making it a one-run game
Top of the 5th
• UC once again responded. Mottice singled to start things off. A fielder's choice, error and walk loaded the bases. Mercer came through with a sacrifice fly to put the Bearcats' lead back at two
Bottom of the 8th
• San Diego made things interesting by tying the game as they scored two runs. Two singles, an error and a sacrifice fly made up the damage
Bottom of the 9th
• UC continued to shine defensively to stay alive late. With a runner on first, a failed pickoff attempt sent the ball flying well beyond first base. Murphy hustled to it and made a spectacular throw across the field to third to get the runner trying to advance. The remarkable play also recorded the second out in the crucial inning. A.J. Bumpass made a great catch in right field to send the game to extras
Top of the 10th
• Bonus baseball began when Connor McVey was hit by a pitch, Bumpass walked and Jace Mercer hustled on a bunt and reached because of an error, loading the bases. A flyout by Rodriguez allowed the go-ahead run to score. With bases loaded again, Haberkorn laced a base hit down the left field line to score two more, adding in some insurance
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Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)