TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team got back into the win column on Friday as it beat Toledo 5-4 in the opening game of the series.
// NOTABLES
• Cincinnati improves to 8-9 on the season while Toledo drops to 3-12
• The Rockets had bases loaded in three consecutive innings but the Bearcats pitching and defense was able to limit the damage in each frame to come out with the victory
• J.T. Perez continued to post quality starts on the mound. He went 6.0 innings with eight hits, three runs, one earned run, three walks and eight strikeouts
• Jarod Yoakam earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the year. He threw 1.2 frames with two walks and two strikeouts
• David Orndorff was his usual self in the ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season. He faced three batters in the final frame and struck out one
• Joey Wiemer had a big day at the plate, including hitting his first collegiate homerun. The freshman finished 2-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBI. He scored two runs, including the go-ahead in the eighth inning
• Manny Rodriguez also had a good day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and a triple
• Down by one run late, Cole Murphy hit a game-tying double and Jace Mercer followed with a sacrifice fly to get the game-winning RBI
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• Cincinnati took an early lead when Rodriguez doubled and came around to score on a Wiemer double
Top of the 3rd
• Toledo tied it on a single, wild pitch and an error
Bottom of the 3rd
• The first tie of the game did not last long as UC score two in the bottom of the frame. Rodriguez tripled and scored easily on a ground out by Connor McVey. Wiemer then blasted a homerun over the wall in left field
Top of the 5th
• The Rockets slowly worked their way back in. They scored one in the fifth on a walk, error and two singles.
Top of the 6th
• Toledo tied the game on a solo homerun in the first at-bat in the fifth. After loading the bases with no outs, Perez struck out the next two batters and got a fly out to end the threat
Top of the 7th
• The Rockets loaded the bases and were able to add another tally, but they were once again limited. Three walks and a hit batter gave Toledo a 4-3 advantage.
Bottom of the 8th
• The Bearcats would not be put away as they rallied to win it late. The inning started with a single by Rodriguez. Once Jordan Ramey came in to pinch run, McVey moved him over on a sacrifice bunt. Wiemer followed with a walk before Murphy blasted his double up against the wall in left center to tie the game. In the next at-bat, Mercer hit his ball to left field to allow Wiemer to score the go-ahead run
// UP NEXT
• Saturday's game time has been moved back to 3 p.m. instead of the regularly scheduled 1 p.m. due to the threat of inclement weather
• Sunday's finale with Toledo is still set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)
// NOTABLES
• Cincinnati improves to 8-9 on the season while Toledo drops to 3-12
• The Rockets had bases loaded in three consecutive innings but the Bearcats pitching and defense was able to limit the damage in each frame to come out with the victory
• J.T. Perez continued to post quality starts on the mound. He went 6.0 innings with eight hits, three runs, one earned run, three walks and eight strikeouts
• Jarod Yoakam earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the year. He threw 1.2 frames with two walks and two strikeouts
• David Orndorff was his usual self in the ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season. He faced three batters in the final frame and struck out one
• Joey Wiemer had a big day at the plate, including hitting his first collegiate homerun. The freshman finished 2-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBI. He scored two runs, including the go-ahead in the eighth inning
• Manny Rodriguez also had a good day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and a triple
• Down by one run late, Cole Murphy hit a game-tying double and Jace Mercer followed with a sacrifice fly to get the game-winning RBI
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• Cincinnati took an early lead when Rodriguez doubled and came around to score on a Wiemer double
Top of the 3rd
• Toledo tied it on a single, wild pitch and an error
Bottom of the 3rd
• The first tie of the game did not last long as UC score two in the bottom of the frame. Rodriguez tripled and scored easily on a ground out by Connor McVey. Wiemer then blasted a homerun over the wall in left field
Top of the 5th
• The Rockets slowly worked their way back in. They scored one in the fifth on a walk, error and two singles.
Top of the 6th
• Toledo tied the game on a solo homerun in the first at-bat in the fifth. After loading the bases with no outs, Perez struck out the next two batters and got a fly out to end the threat
Top of the 7th
• The Rockets loaded the bases and were able to add another tally, but they were once again limited. Three walks and a hit batter gave Toledo a 4-3 advantage.
Bottom of the 8th
• The Bearcats would not be put away as they rallied to win it late. The inning started with a single by Rodriguez. Once Jordan Ramey came in to pinch run, McVey moved him over on a sacrifice bunt. Wiemer followed with a walk before Murphy blasted his double up against the wall in left center to tie the game. In the next at-bat, Mercer hit his ball to left field to allow Wiemer to score the go-ahead run
// UP NEXT
• Saturday's game time has been moved back to 3 p.m. instead of the regularly scheduled 1 p.m. due to the threat of inclement weather
• Sunday's finale with Toledo is still set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)