Comeback Squandered in Joe Nuxhall Classic Title Game

UC lost 9-8 on a Miami walk-off

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Comeback Squandered in Joe Nuxhall Classic Title GameComeback Squandered in Joe Nuxhall Classic Title Game
Nick Brown - Rooted Media
OXFORD, Ohio – University of Cincinnati baseball staged a comeback but ultimately fell short as host Miami won the Joe Nuxhall Classic on a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Bearcats worked back from a five-run deficit to take the lead in the seventh. The RedHawks walked-off for the second night in a row to win the annual tournament in back-to-back years.
 
// NOTABLES
• Cincinnati is now at 16-15 on the season
• Miami's record improves to 19-10
Kyle Mottice had a nice night leading off. He began the game with a homerun and finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a walk
Manny Rodriguez increased his impressive reach base safely streak to 33 games. He followed Mottice with a homerun in the first inning as the Bearcats hit back-to-back round-trippers
Connor McVey also had two RBI. He went 1-for-1 with three walks
Jalen Wade started the game on the mound before Isaac Olson entered in relief
Tanner Schimmoeller followed with 2.0 scoreless, hitless frames with two strikeouts
A.J. Kullman threw a 1-2-3 inning before Jarod Yoakam was tagged with the loss in the ninth
 
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st  
• The game started with a bang as Mottice led off the game with a homerun for the second time this season and Rodriguez followed with one of his own
Bottom of the 1st
• A triple, single and an error allowed Miami to tie the game in the bottom of the inning
Bottom of the 2nd
• The RedHawks were able to take the lead with a four-run frame. The scoring started with a walk, two singles and a double. An error extended the inning and allowed a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-2 game
Bottom of the 3rd
• Miami tacked on another run on a walk, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly
Top of the 5th
• UC got two runs back in the fifth. Rodriguez walked, A.J. Bumpass singled and McVey hit an RBI infield single. After bases became loaded, Dondrae Bremner was hit by a pitch for an easy RBI
Top of the 6th
• McVey reached on a bases-loaded walk for another RBI as the Bearcats continued to chip away at the lead
Top of the 7th
• UC worked all the way back to take the lead late. Bremner walked, Jordan Ramey reached on a bunt to first base and Mason DeAnna singled to load the bases with no outs. Treg Haberkorn hit a base hit to right to score one. An infield base hit by Mottice advanced every runner a base. The third and final run of the frame came by way of a sacrifice fly by Rodriguez, giving the Bearcats an 8-7 lead
Bottom of the 9th
• The final frame started with a walk. A double would tie the game at eight. After two more walks loaded the bases, Miami walked-off on a fielder's choice, winning 9-8.
 
// UP NEXT
• UC travels to Orlando this weekend for a three-game conference series with UCF
• The series is set to start on Friday with a 6:30 p.m. game
• The Bearcats return home to face Xavier on Wednesday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m.
 
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