|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
|
USF
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3
|
5
|
0
|
|
UC
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
X |
4
|
8
|
0
|
| Pitching |
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
SO
|
| W - Garner (2-1) |
2.2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
| L - Fontanez (1-5) |
8.0
|
8
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
7
|
| SV - Burkett (5) |
1.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| Batting Leaders |
AB
|
R
|
H
|
RBI
|
BB
|
Misc.
|
| USF - Mendez |
4
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1st RBI
|
| UC - Huston |
4
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1 Ass
|
|
|
Up Next:
at Cincinnati | April 2 | 6:30 p.m. | Cincinnati, Ohio.
at Cincinnati | April 3 | 1 p.m. | Cincinnati, Ohio.
|
|
|
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Junior Randy Fontanez threw his second straight complete game but the University of South Florida baseball team fell 4-3 to Cincinnati on Thursday evening at Marge Schott Stadium.
Coming off the third no-hitter in USF history, Fontanez gave the Bulls eight sold innings, but fell victim to a lack of run support by the USF offense.
Cincinnati scattered six hits, five singles and a double, off Fontanez who dropped to 1-5 on the season. All four runs given up by Fontanez were earned.
Making just his second start of the season, Alex Mendez provided a spark for the Bulls offense, collecting two hits and driving in his first career RBI.
Back-to-back hits to begin the fourth put Bearcats on the corners with nobody out. TJ Jones grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but still gave UC a 1-0 lead.
It didn't take long for the Bulls to answer.
Alex Mendez led off the fifth inning with a single, which was followed by a walk to Todd Brazeal. After Chad Taylor grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners, Ryan Lockwood singled through the right side to even up the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, Cincinnati regained the lead with a pair of runs.
In the top of the sixth, USF once again put the first two runners on. Sam Mende and Junior Carlin advanced on a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with nobody out for Eric Sim. Sim cut the lead to 3-2 on RBI ground out. Mendez followed with his second hit of the day, a single to centerfield that scored Carlin and tied the game at three.
In the eighth, Cincinnati scored the eventual game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Jones after the Bearcats loaded the bases with one out.
USF scored all three runs off UC starter Nick Johnson.
UC reliever Brian Garman worked 2.2 innings of relief to pick up the win and Andrew Burkett was perfect in the ninth to earn the save. Burkett and Garman combined to strike out nine of the 13 batters they faced.
With the loss, the Bulls fall to 11-15 on the season and 3-1 in the BIG EAST.
Sophomore Sam Mende made his first start at shortstop after suffering a broken jaw. He played the game with his jaw wired shut. He went hitless in two at-bats, but walked twice and scored a run.
Friday's game will feature a pair of 6'8 pitchers as USF will send southpaw Andrew Barbosa to mound. He will be opposed by Cincinnati junior righthander Dan Jensen. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Marge Schott Stadium.
