TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati baseball's duo of Nathan Kroger and Korren Thompson shutout Niagara on Saturday and allowed just two hits as UC won the game 5-0.
Kroger had an impressive start, going 7.0 innings with two hits and one walk. He matched his career-high in strikeouts with eight. Thompson threw the final two frames with no hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
// NOTABLES
• The Bearcats' hits were scattered throughout the order
• A.J. Bumpass and Eric Santiago both had doubles and Bumpass had two RBI
• Jace Mercer walked two times and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• Mercer and Joey Bellini started the Bearcats' offense with walks and Wyatt Stapp loaded the bases with a single. With two outs, Bumpass stepped to the plate and doubled on the first pitch offered, scoring two. A balk made it 3-0
Bottom of the 2nd
• Two more runs came across when Mason DeAnna reached on an error, Mercer walked and Bellini singled to load the bases. Joey Wiemer walked for a RBI and Stapp hit a sacrifice fly.
// UP NEXT
• The series finale is Sunday at noon
• Next week, UC travels to Wright State on Wednesday then starts conference play at USF next weekend
• The Bearcats return home on Friday, March 29 to host Tulane for a three-game series
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Kroger had an impressive start, going 7.0 innings with two hits and one walk. He matched his career-high in strikeouts with eight. Thompson threw the final two frames with no hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
// NOTABLES
• The Bearcats' hits were scattered throughout the order
• A.J. Bumpass and Eric Santiago both had doubles and Bumpass had two RBI
• Jace Mercer walked two times and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot
// KEY INNINGS
Bottom of the 1st
• Mercer and Joey Bellini started the Bearcats' offense with walks and Wyatt Stapp loaded the bases with a single. With two outs, Bumpass stepped to the plate and doubled on the first pitch offered, scoring two. A balk made it 3-0
Bottom of the 2nd
• Two more runs came across when Mason DeAnna reached on an error, Mercer walked and Bellini singled to load the bases. Joey Wiemer walked for a RBI and Stapp hit a sacrifice fly.
// UP NEXT
• The series finale is Sunday at noon
• Next week, UC travels to Wright State on Wednesday then starts conference play at USF next weekend
• The Bearcats return home on Friday, March 29 to host Tulane for a three-game series
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.