TicketsTAMPA, Fla. – University of Cincinnati baseball battled all night at USF but ended the game with a 4-2 loss Friday night to open play in the American Athletic Conference.
The Bearcats' defense shone brightly with four double plays in the game, including one in each of the first three innings. After the Bulls' leadoff batter singled, pitcher A.J. Kullman fielded a ball grounded back to him, threw to second base and shortstop Joey Bellini made the throw to first. In the second, A.J. Bumpass tracked down a short fly ball and threw down the runner on single who could not get back in time. The third inning's was more routine: with runners on the corners, a ground ball to short sent the game to the fourth frame.
Later on, the fourth came routinely but in a big spot. With bases loaded after USF had just taken a one-run advantage, another six-four-three twin killer kept it a one-run game.
// NOTABLES
• UC now sits at 6-14 on the season while USF improves to 12-8
• Wyatt Stapp finished 2-for-4 at the plate and also picked up a RBI with a sacrifice fly
• Bumpass had the biggest hit for the Bearcats, a solo homerun in the second
• Kullman went 4.1 innings in the start with two runs on seven hits, four walks and two strikeouts
• Evan Shawver followed with 2.2 innings of relief work, allowing two runs on two hits, four walks and two strikeouts
• Clayton Colvin did not give up a hit in the final frame, walking one and striking out one
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 2nd
• Bumpass got things going with a big homerun to right field to lead off the second.
Bottom of the 5th
• The Bulls were able to work their way back in the game in the fifth. A leadoff walk, another walk and a single loaded the bases. A base allowed all runners to advance and the game to become tied. A hit batter put USF ahead by one.
Bottom of the 6th
• Another bases-loaded situation allowed USF to tack on another run. A single and two walks put Bulls on every base before a third walk tallied a run.
Bottom of the 7th
• Walks plagued the Bearcats once again as a walk and a double made it a 4-1 game in favor of the Bulls
Top of the 9th
• For the second game in a row UC looked to rally in the ninth. Jeremy Johnson started things with a single and a stolen base. Jace Mercer then walked and Bellini kept things alive when he reached on a fielder's choice and Mercer was safe at second on an error. With bases loaded, Stapp hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Johnson. Both Mercer and Bellini moved in to scoring position on a double steal, but a hard hit ball by Joey Wiemer on a full-count at-bat was hit into the shift to end the game
// UP NEXT
• The series continues with a 6:30 p.m. game on Saturday
• Just added to the schedule, UC will host NKU on Wednesday, March 27 at 4 p.m.
• The Bearcats resume conference play 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.
The Bearcats' defense shone brightly with four double plays in the game, including one in each of the first three innings. After the Bulls' leadoff batter singled, pitcher A.J. Kullman fielded a ball grounded back to him, threw to second base and shortstop Joey Bellini made the throw to first. In the second, A.J. Bumpass tracked down a short fly ball and threw down the runner on single who could not get back in time. The third inning's was more routine: with runners on the corners, a ground ball to short sent the game to the fourth frame.
Later on, the fourth came routinely but in a big spot. With bases loaded after USF had just taken a one-run advantage, another six-four-three twin killer kept it a one-run game.
// NOTABLES
• UC now sits at 6-14 on the season while USF improves to 12-8
• Wyatt Stapp finished 2-for-4 at the plate and also picked up a RBI with a sacrifice fly
• Bumpass had the biggest hit for the Bearcats, a solo homerun in the second
• Kullman went 4.1 innings in the start with two runs on seven hits, four walks and two strikeouts
• Evan Shawver followed with 2.2 innings of relief work, allowing two runs on two hits, four walks and two strikeouts
• Clayton Colvin did not give up a hit in the final frame, walking one and striking out one
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 2nd
• Bumpass got things going with a big homerun to right field to lead off the second.
Bottom of the 5th
• The Bulls were able to work their way back in the game in the fifth. A leadoff walk, another walk and a single loaded the bases. A base allowed all runners to advance and the game to become tied. A hit batter put USF ahead by one.
Bottom of the 6th
• Another bases-loaded situation allowed USF to tack on another run. A single and two walks put Bulls on every base before a third walk tallied a run.
Bottom of the 7th
• Walks plagued the Bearcats once again as a walk and a double made it a 4-1 game in favor of the Bulls
Top of the 9th
• For the second game in a row UC looked to rally in the ninth. Jeremy Johnson started things with a single and a stolen base. Jace Mercer then walked and Bellini kept things alive when he reached on a fielder's choice and Mercer was safe at second on an error. With bases loaded, Stapp hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Johnson. Both Mercer and Bellini moved in to scoring position on a double steal, but a hard hit ball by Joey Wiemer on a full-count at-bat was hit into the shift to end the game
// UP NEXT
• The series continues with a 6:30 p.m. game on Saturday
• Just added to the schedule, UC will host NKU on Wednesday, March 27 at 4 p.m.
• The Bearcats resume conference play 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.