TicketsSAN DIEGO, Calif. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team finished just shy of sweeping its opening series of play as it fell 4-3 on a walk-off to San Diego Sunday night in game two of a double header.
The game was highlighted by strong pitching performances. After giving up a single to start the second inning, Bearcats starter Nathan Kroger retired the next 14 batters. He gave up a single and homerun in his final inning, but left in line for the win. Freshman Jalen Wade cruised through the first two innings of his debut, going three up-three down in both frames with two strikeouts.
// NOTABLES
• Kroger went six innings with four hits, two runs, no walks and three strikeouts in the no decision
• Wade suffered the loss in his 2.1 innings of work with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts
• Connor McVey went 2-for-3 in the game with a double and two walks
• Kyle Mottice, Treg Haberkorn and Mason DeAnna also doubled in the loss
• Cincinnati had its opportunities to add to the lead. The Bearcats had bases loaded with no outs in the sixth, scored two runs, then left them loaded. They loaded them again in the ninth but stranded all three runners
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 4th
• The first run came across in the top of the fourth. McVey led off the inning with a single then advanced on a wild pitch and a balk. He scored easily when Manny Rodriguez hit a high fly ball to center field to earn the RBI on the sacrifice
Top of the 6th
• UC added on in the sixth. It started with a Mottice double to right. Joey Thomas followed with a single and McVey put together a nice at-bat and earned a full-count walk to load the bases. Bumpass smacked a ball deep to center for a sacrifice fly and Cole Murphy singled later in the frame as they each earned a RBI
Bottom of the 6th
• San Diego responded with a two-run frame of their own after a single and a homerun, making it a one-run game
Bottom of the 9th
• With one out and a 2-2 count, the Toreros hit a solo homerun to tie the game. The next batter hit a double off the wall and an intentional walk put two runners on with one out. A base hit to left field allowed the winning run to score and ended the game
// UP NEXT
• The Bearcats travel to Sam Houston State to take on the Bearkats in a three-game series
• The first game is set for Friday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. EST
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)
The game was highlighted by strong pitching performances. After giving up a single to start the second inning, Bearcats starter Nathan Kroger retired the next 14 batters. He gave up a single and homerun in his final inning, but left in line for the win. Freshman Jalen Wade cruised through the first two innings of his debut, going three up-three down in both frames with two strikeouts.
// NOTABLES
• Kroger went six innings with four hits, two runs, no walks and three strikeouts in the no decision
• Wade suffered the loss in his 2.1 innings of work with two hits, one walk and three strikeouts
• Connor McVey went 2-for-3 in the game with a double and two walks
• Kyle Mottice, Treg Haberkorn and Mason DeAnna also doubled in the loss
• Cincinnati had its opportunities to add to the lead. The Bearcats had bases loaded with no outs in the sixth, scored two runs, then left them loaded. They loaded them again in the ninth but stranded all three runners
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 4th
• The first run came across in the top of the fourth. McVey led off the inning with a single then advanced on a wild pitch and a balk. He scored easily when Manny Rodriguez hit a high fly ball to center field to earn the RBI on the sacrifice
Top of the 6th
• UC added on in the sixth. It started with a Mottice double to right. Joey Thomas followed with a single and McVey put together a nice at-bat and earned a full-count walk to load the bases. Bumpass smacked a ball deep to center for a sacrifice fly and Cole Murphy singled later in the frame as they each earned a RBI
Bottom of the 6th
• San Diego responded with a two-run frame of their own after a single and a homerun, making it a one-run game
Bottom of the 9th
• With one out and a 2-2 count, the Toreros hit a solo homerun to tie the game. The next batter hit a double off the wall and an intentional walk put two runners on with one out. A base hit to left field allowed the winning run to score and ended the game
// UP NEXT
• The Bearcats travel to Sam Houston State to take on the Bearkats in a three-game series
• The first game is set for Friday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. EST
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)