University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Cincinnati
Vols Edge Cincinnati, 5-4
March 19, 2002 | Baseball
March 19, 2002
Knoxville, Tenn. -- Tennessee welcomed back a couple of injured players in catcher Javi Herrera and right fielder Ryan Moffett, but it took a one-out single by Brandon Hopkins in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Volunteers to a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The win extended Tennessee's winning streak over Cincinnati to 10 games while snapping a three-game losing streak for the Vols who improved to 11-13. The Bearcats fell to 10-8-1.
Herrera, who missed the last 15 games after suffering a broken hamate bone in his right hand, entered the game in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-2. Moffett went 2-for-2 and tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth. He missed the last 14 games after getting hit in the face by a pitch against Bowling Green State.
Hal Bibee also had two hits and Walter Sevilla went 1-for-4 as they extended their respective hitting streaks to 10 games apiece.
Joey Andrews (3-3) picked up the win as he pitched the ninth, while Kyle Markle (2-1) took his first loss of the season.
Vol starter Jay Sadlowe, making his first start since Feb. 24 against Eastern Michigan, took a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts in five innings.
Rob Reel worked 6 2/3 innings for the Bearcats, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out six and walking one.
With Cincinnati holding a 4-3 lead in the eighth, Matt Sternberg belted his first home run of the season over the left field fence to tie the game and put the Volunteers in position for the win.
The game saw four ties and four lead changes before Hopkins' game-winning hit.
The Vols pounded out three hits and took a 1-0 lead in the first as Hopkins singled home Nick Crowe.
Brad Schutz then drove home Brad Dorrmann to tie the game 1-1 in the third.
After Tennessee took a 2-1 lead on a Jordan Czarniecki's sacrifice fly, Brett Clark connected on his first home run of the season in the bottom of the frame to tie it 2-2.
Aaron Moll drove home Jake Smith who doubled with two out to give the Bearcats a 3-2 lead.
Moffett's single over the outstretched shortstop's glove allowed Bibee to plate the tying run at 3-3.
The Bearcats answered with a go-ahead run in the seventh as Dorrman came around to score from second on pinch hitter Aaron Brown's single to left for a 4-3 lead.
The Vols and Bearcats will play Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
