CINCINNATI, Ohio (April 23, 2022) – The University of Cincinnati (17-20, 7-4 AAC) launched three home runs on Saturday evening in a 13-2 win over the University of South Florida (22-17, 3-8 AAC) to even the weekend series at one game apiece.
The loss snapped a three-game win streak for South Florida.
The Bearcats jumped on the very first pitch of the ballgame from Joseph Sanchez (Miami) for a solo homer to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Nick Gonzalez (Tampa) knotted the score with a two-out single in the top of the fourth, but the home team quickly answered.
Cincinnati reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth with another solo blast on the first pitch delivered by Jack Cebert (Tampa) out of the bullpen and added a three-run homer later in the frame to stretch the lead to 5-1.
With no outs in the top of the sixth, Joaquin Monque (Weston) pulled the Bulls closer with an RBI-double which could have sparked a big inning, but he was stranded at second and USF settled for just the one run.
The Bearcats then put up eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the run-rule victory in seven innings.
Notable
- Carmine Lane (Lake Placid) extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games and leads the AAC with 61 hits this season.
- Austin Grause (Tampa) tossed a scoreless inning of relief for USF and has not allowed a run over his last 3.0 IP.
- Albert Hernandez (Van Nuys, Calif.) made his season debut on the mound and recorded a strikeout.
Up Next
The rubber match of the three-game series between the Bulls and Bearcats is set for Sunday, April 24 at 12 p.m. in Cincinnati.
For tickets, please visit usfbullstix.com or call 1-800-Go-Bulls.
About USF Baseball
The USF Baseball program played its first season in 1966 and is entering its 57th season in 2022. Head coach Billy Mohl is entering his fifth season at the helm. The Bulls have made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four since 2015, and earned their first-ever Super Regional berth in 2021. USF was ranked in the Top 25 by five different publications in the final 2021 polls, checking in as high as No. 16. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles (3 Sun Belt, 1 Metro and 1 American) and six regular season championships (3 Sun Belt, 2 Metro and 1 C-USA). USF baseball players have been recognized with All-America honors 12 times, most recently with third baseman David Villar in 2018, and 18 have earned Freshman All-America accolades, most recently Drew Brutcher and Carmine Lane in 2021. Four players were selected in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program's fourth first-round selection in pitcher Shane McClanahan, who made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series and was the Rays' postseason game one starter in 2021.
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