TicketsGREENVILLE, N.C. – University of Cincinnati baseball lost a heartbreaking game Sunday afternoon as No. 10 ECU hit a walk-off single in the ninth despite trailing 5-1 through seven frames. The final score was 6-5.
// NOTABLES
• Cincinnati is now 26-24 on the season and 11-10 in conference play
• ECU moves to 37-13 and 13-8
• Defense dazzled once again as the Bearcats had some memorable defensive moments. Corner infielders Eric Santiago and Connor McVey both made diving stops that both kept the momentum in UC's dugout in the middle innings
• Kyle Mottice and Cole Murphy both had good days at the plate. They each had two hits and two RBI. Mottice had a double and Murphy hit a homerun. Mottice also had a sacrifice and a stolen base
• Mason DeAnna also had a two-hit day, going 2-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt
• Manny Rodriguez increased his reach base streak to 47 games with a walk and a base hit on the day
• Cam Alldred put up a quality start going 6.0 innings with one run, five hits, one walk and six strikeouts. The run and the walk didn't come until the sixth inning
• Unfortunately, UC's bullpen could not hold up Alldred's strong performance as the next three pitchers for the Bearcats walked seven batters and gave up three hits to allow ECU into the game
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead. Bases became loaded when McVey reached on a fielder's choice, Rodriguez singled and A.J. Bumpass followed with a base hit. McVey was allowed to run home and all runners advanced on a wild pitch
Top of the 2nd
• UC kept it going in the next inning for a two-run frame. Wiemer doubled, Haberkorn walked and Mottice sent them both home on a double to left field
Top of the 5th
• It became a 5-0 game when Santiago was hit by a pitch and Murphy drilled a no-doubt homerun over the right field wall
Bottom of the 6th
• The Pirates got on the board with a solo homerun to right field
Bottom of the 8th
• ECU loaded the bases via three walks before a single up the middle scored two and made it a two-run game
Bottom of the 9th
• A solo homerun made it 5-4. A base hit and two walks loaded the bases before a single to right field allowed the game-tying and winning run to come in and score
// UP NEXT
• UC returns home for an 11 a.m. game against Ohio State on Tuesday, May 15
• The final three games of the regular season will be played Thursday, May 17 through Saturday, May 19 with a three game series against USF at Marge Schott Stadium
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)
// NOTABLES
• Cincinnati is now 26-24 on the season and 11-10 in conference play
• ECU moves to 37-13 and 13-8
• Defense dazzled once again as the Bearcats had some memorable defensive moments. Corner infielders Eric Santiago and Connor McVey both made diving stops that both kept the momentum in UC's dugout in the middle innings
• Kyle Mottice and Cole Murphy both had good days at the plate. They each had two hits and two RBI. Mottice had a double and Murphy hit a homerun. Mottice also had a sacrifice and a stolen base
• Mason DeAnna also had a two-hit day, going 2-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt
• Manny Rodriguez increased his reach base streak to 47 games with a walk and a base hit on the day
• Cam Alldred put up a quality start going 6.0 innings with one run, five hits, one walk and six strikeouts. The run and the walk didn't come until the sixth inning
• Unfortunately, UC's bullpen could not hold up Alldred's strong performance as the next three pitchers for the Bearcats walked seven batters and gave up three hits to allow ECU into the game
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead. Bases became loaded when McVey reached on a fielder's choice, Rodriguez singled and A.J. Bumpass followed with a base hit. McVey was allowed to run home and all runners advanced on a wild pitch
Top of the 2nd
• UC kept it going in the next inning for a two-run frame. Wiemer doubled, Haberkorn walked and Mottice sent them both home on a double to left field
Top of the 5th
• It became a 5-0 game when Santiago was hit by a pitch and Murphy drilled a no-doubt homerun over the right field wall
Bottom of the 6th
• The Pirates got on the board with a solo homerun to right field
Bottom of the 8th
• ECU loaded the bases via three walks before a single up the middle scored two and made it a two-run game
Bottom of the 9th
• A solo homerun made it 5-4. A base hit and two walks loaded the bases before a single to right field allowed the game-tying and winning run to come in and score
// UP NEXT
• UC returns home for an 11 a.m. game against Ohio State on Tuesday, May 15
• The final three games of the regular season will be played Thursday, May 17 through Saturday, May 19 with a three game series against USF at Marge Schott Stadium
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook (GoBearcatsBase), Twitter (@GoBearcatsBase) and Instagram (GoBearcatsBase)