TicketsHOUSTON, Texas – University of Cincinnati baseball edged out Houston Baptist Sunday afternoon for its first win of the season, coming 5-4 in twelve innings.
Jace Mercer had the game-winning RBI, doubling to center field with two strikes and two outs late in the game. Both teams had ample opportunities to score late, but it was the Bearcats who broke through as freshman Nick Murray earned his first collegiate win by working out of jams in the later innings.
// NOTABLES
• Mercer had a good day overall, going 4-for-7 with a RBI and run scored
• Dondrae Bremner went 3-for-5 and added in a stolen base
• Joey Wiemer stayed hot with two hits and two walks
• Eric Santiago also had a multi-hit day, finishing 2-for-4
• Wyatt Stapp scored a run after walking three times in the game
• Garrett Schoenle went 5.0 frames in the start with two runs on three hits and five strikeouts
• Clayton Colvin followed with a no-hit inning with a walk and a strikeout
• Korren Thompson pitched well in his 2.0 innings of work with no runs, no walks, one hit and three strikeouts
• Murray got the win after throwing the final 3.0 innings with three hits, two walks and a strikeout
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The game started with a base hit by Mercer. Stapp followed with a walk and both came in to score when Joey Bellini hit a fly ball that was dropped by the left fielder
Bottom of the 5th
• UC remained in front until HBU was able to tie the game in the fifth. A single, walk and another base hit loaded the bases with no outs. An additional single allowed all runners to advance on base. A double-play recorded the first two outs of the inning but allowed the tying run to score.
Top of the 8th
• The Bearcats were able to get a run back late. Stapp led off with a four-pitch walk before Wiemer singled down the left field line with a 0-2 count. A sacrifice bunt by Bellini moved both runners (A.J. Bumpass pinch running for Stapp) into scoring position. Eric Santiago then stepped up to the plate and executed a bunt single to allow Bumpass to slide into home for the UC lead
Top of the 9th
• UC tacked another run on to make it 4-2 when Mercer singled through the right side, Jeremy Johnson and Bumpass both had fielder's choices before Wiemer had a base hit and made his way to third on an error, allowing Bumpass to score
Bottom of the 9th
• HBU decided to make things interesting late. Two walks and a ground out put two in scoring position with two outs. A triple cleared the bases and tied the game. However, a ground out stranded the runner on third
Top of the 12th
• The final frame started with an Eric Santiago single. Nate Meyer then had a sacrifice bunt to successfully move the runner to second. Bremner then got on base after being hit by a pitch. With two outs and an 0-2 count, Mercer dropped a double into center field for the game-winning RBI
// UP NEXT
• Midweek play begins on Tuesday as the Bearcats travel to take on Indiana
• UC then is on the road again next weekend for another three-game series at Auburn
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Jace Mercer had the game-winning RBI, doubling to center field with two strikes and two outs late in the game. Both teams had ample opportunities to score late, but it was the Bearcats who broke through as freshman Nick Murray earned his first collegiate win by working out of jams in the later innings.
// NOTABLES
• Mercer had a good day overall, going 4-for-7 with a RBI and run scored
• Dondrae Bremner went 3-for-5 and added in a stolen base
• Joey Wiemer stayed hot with two hits and two walks
• Eric Santiago also had a multi-hit day, finishing 2-for-4
• Wyatt Stapp scored a run after walking three times in the game
• Garrett Schoenle went 5.0 frames in the start with two runs on three hits and five strikeouts
• Clayton Colvin followed with a no-hit inning with a walk and a strikeout
• Korren Thompson pitched well in his 2.0 innings of work with no runs, no walks, one hit and three strikeouts
• Murray got the win after throwing the final 3.0 innings with three hits, two walks and a strikeout
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The game started with a base hit by Mercer. Stapp followed with a walk and both came in to score when Joey Bellini hit a fly ball that was dropped by the left fielder
Bottom of the 5th
• UC remained in front until HBU was able to tie the game in the fifth. A single, walk and another base hit loaded the bases with no outs. An additional single allowed all runners to advance on base. A double-play recorded the first two outs of the inning but allowed the tying run to score.
Top of the 8th
• The Bearcats were able to get a run back late. Stapp led off with a four-pitch walk before Wiemer singled down the left field line with a 0-2 count. A sacrifice bunt by Bellini moved both runners (A.J. Bumpass pinch running for Stapp) into scoring position. Eric Santiago then stepped up to the plate and executed a bunt single to allow Bumpass to slide into home for the UC lead
Top of the 9th
• UC tacked another run on to make it 4-2 when Mercer singled through the right side, Jeremy Johnson and Bumpass both had fielder's choices before Wiemer had a base hit and made his way to third on an error, allowing Bumpass to score
Bottom of the 9th
• HBU decided to make things interesting late. Two walks and a ground out put two in scoring position with two outs. A triple cleared the bases and tied the game. However, a ground out stranded the runner on third
Top of the 12th
• The final frame started with an Eric Santiago single. Nate Meyer then had a sacrifice bunt to successfully move the runner to second. Bremner then got on base after being hit by a pitch. With two outs and an 0-2 count, Mercer dropped a double into center field for the game-winning RBI
// UP NEXT
• Midweek play begins on Tuesday as the Bearcats travel to take on Indiana
• UC then is on the road again next weekend for another three-game series at Auburn
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.