CINCINNATI – A bases-clearing double in the top of the seventh by Treg Haberkorn (Leo, Ind./Leo) broke open a 1-1 game and propelled the University of Cincinnati baseball team to a 7-1 road win at Ohio State, Tuesday at Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium.

 

Cincinnati (16-16) started off a four-game road swing on the right foot and snapped a three-game losing skid against the Buckeyes (14-18) and picked up their first win in Columbus since 2012.

 

UC knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth after a leadoff triple down the left-field line by R.J. Thompson (Mason, Ohio/Mason) followed by a RBI groundout from A.J. Bumpass (Rougemont, N.C./Northern) which scored Thompson.

 

UC added three in the seventh after Jace Mercer (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek) was hit by a pitch, Joey Thomas (Mason, Ohio/Mason) singled through the right side and Manny Rodriguez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Calvert Hall) laid down a sacrifice bunt to load them up, which set the table for Haberkorn's double to the wall in right center.

 

Haberkorn has rung up seven hits, three doubles and six runs batted in over the past five games. He tapped a line-drive home run over the fence at Miami (Ohio) a week ago to plate the go-ahead run in an 8-6 win over the RedHawks.

 

UC starter A.J. Olasz (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin Area) gave up a two-out home run to Brady Cherry in the bottom of the first and held the Buckeyes at bay from there, retiring seven of the last nine batters he faced, before giving way to Jarod Yoakam (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) in the bottom of the fifth inning. Yoakam picked up the win, throwing three innings of one-hit ball, walking two and striking out one. He is 2-0 on the season. Nathan Kroger (Loveland, Ohio/Milford) gave up a hit in an inning of work and A.J. Kullman (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the win.

 

Connor McVey (Mason, Ohio/Mason) and Thomas led the way with a pair of hits apiece. McVey started the three-run eighth inning with a single to right center, a stolen base and a wild pitch, which advanced him to third. He scored on a double by Ryan Noda (Volo, Ill./Grant) down the right-field line. Noda advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Eric Santiago (Bethlehem, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond) and scored on a single up the middle by Mercer. After a Thomas single put runners on the corners with two outs, Rodriguez plated UC's final run with a sacrifice fly to center, which scored Mercer.

 

// NOTABLE

· The Bearcats are 6-2 in midweek games this season with wins over Kentucky, Indiana, then No. 1 Louisville, Miami (Ohio) twice and Ohio State.

· UC has totaled eight or more hits in nine-straight games.

· Bumpass had a double and RBI and has reached base in 28 straight games.

· Mercer has seven hits and five runs batted in over UC's last five games.

· Rodriguez had a sacrifice bunt, sacrifice fly, RBI and a run scored.

 

GoBEARCATS.COM Baseball Gets 7-1 Midweek Win At Ohio State - University Of Cincinnati Official Athletic Site University Of Cincinnati

The Bearcats open a conference 3 game series against #25 USF (28-5, 4-2 AAC), this evening at 6:30 in Tampa. Mrs. S and I attend the Friday First Pitch event every home series, so we'll see the Friday night game.

 

The Bulls' SS and lead-off batter, Kevin Merrell, is ranked 6th in the nation in batting average (.427). However, USF has stranded a bunch base runners, especially in the losses to Tulane and FGCU. The Bulls do not score a ton of runs per game, 6.8.

 

They haven't needed to. The USF pitching staff is ranked 1st in the nation in strikeouts per 9 innings, 4th in hits allowed per 9 innings, and 4th in team ERA. They average giving up only 3.1 runs per game. The most any team has scored on them in a game has been 6.

 

Cincinnati will face Phoenix Sanders on the mound, tonight. Phoenix is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 67 strike outs on the season. He will look absolutely dominant then have his inevitable bad inning in the 4th, 5th, or 6th. I have not seen him go less than 7, but once in his 8 starts, though.

 

Shane McClanahan (4-1, 2.76 ERA, 62 SO) is the Friday night starter and Pete Strzelecki (1-1, 1.91 ERA, 45 SO) will start on Saturday.

 

I checked the weather last night and there is a massive 1% chance of rain this weekend. We need rain bad.

 

UC has beaten Louisville in Cincinnati when UofL was ranked #1.

USF beat, then ranked #3, Florida State in Tallahassee.

 

Common opponents ...

 

The Bearcats dropped 2 of 3 to Tulane last weekend in Cincinnati (16-8(L), 6-2(L), 11-1(W)).

USF dropped 2 of 3 to Tulane in New Orleans the previous weekend (6-4(L), 4-3(L), 7-5(W)).

 

Cincinnati has beaten Miami OH twice, 1-0 in Cincinnati and 8-6 in Oxford.

The Bulls took 3 from Miami OH in Tampa. 5-1, 3-2, and 11-2.