April 30, 2008

Box Score

CINCINNATI--Mike Spina knocked a two-run homer to right field in the first and a towering two-run bomb to left field in the seventh to lead the University of Cincinnati to a 9-3 victory over crosstown foe Xavier on Wednesday night at Marge Schott Stadium.  Spina finished the night 3-for-5, with five RBIs to key Cincinnati to its third victory in as many tries this season against Xavier.

In a mirror image from the day before, Cincinnati jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.  With one away, Jamel Scott walked and two batters later, Spina powered an outside pitch over the right field wall to give UC the early advantage.  Cameron Satterwhite followed with a solo homer of his own to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Cincinnati (27-17) used a pair of two-out hits in third inning to add another run to the lead.  Satterwhite ripped a double down the left field line and on the next pitch Ryan Baker singled to left field, scoring Satterwhite to extend the margin to 4-0.

Xavier (19-25) scratched for the first time against UC starter Brian Garman in the fourth inning.  With one away, Dan Hayden and Andy Zellers hit consecutive singles.  Following a fielder's choice that cut down Hayden at third, consecutive wild pitches from Garman plated Zellers with to make it 4-1.

Scott opened the fifth inning with an infield single and was standing at second base after a stolen base.  Harrison then doubled high off the wall in center field.  Spina followed with a double of his own that brought Harrison home.  The third double of the inning, this one by Satterwhite, plated Spina and stretched the margin to 7-1.

Garman worked five innings, allowing one run on four hits to improve to 3-2 on the season.  Matt Heber followed with three innings of relief in which he yielded a run on four hits.

In the top of the sixth, Dan Hayden's solo homer off of Bearcats reliever Heber gave the Musketeers cut the margin to 7-2.

Harrison, who hit safely for the seventh straight game, opened the UC half of the seventh with a double down the left field line.  Spina followed with a mammoth homer to extend the margin to 9-2.

Xavier added a run in the ninth against Brian Sand to set the final count, at 9-3.

UC returns to action this Friday at 6:30 p.m. when it plays host to Rutgers in the first of three BIG EAST Conference games at Marge Schott Stadium. 

--GoBEARCATS.com--