TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati baseball complete the series sweep against Wichita State with a 10-4 victory Sunday afternoon.
The Bearcats entered the day sitting in sole place of third in the conference standings, and the win will keep them there with three weeks left in the regular season. UC was picked eighth in the preseason AAC poll. The top eight of nine teams in the conference qualify for the AAC Tournament in Clearwater, Florida later in May.
// NOTABLES
• UC reaches .500 on the season with a 22-22 record and is now 11-7 in the AAC
• Wichita State falls to 20-23 and 5-10
• After starter Garrett Schoenle pitched the first 3.0 frames, Nick Murray entered the game and went the distance
• Murray was solid, giving up just one run and three hits while walking none. He earned his third win of the season
• Jace Mercer had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI
• A.J. Bumpass went 2-for-3 with two runs score and two RBI
• Eric Santiago also had a double and Joey Wiemer scored three runs despite going hitless as he walked twice
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The Shockers took an early lead on a two walks, a single and a fielder's choice
Top of the 2nd
• Wichita State added to its lead with two more walks and a throwing error
Bottom of the 2nd
• The Bearcats got both runs back in the second. Wiemer led off with a walk and stole second before Bumpass was also issued a base on balls. Griffin Merritt moved both runners over on a ground out and Mercer sent both home on a single
Top of the 3rd
• The Shockers took the lead back with a run in the third via a solo homerun to left field
Bottom of the 4th
• UC was able to tie the game at three when Wiemer reached on an error, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a Bumpass base hit up the middle
Bottom of the 5th
• It remained tied until the Bearcats were able to produce six runs in the fifth. Santiago started it off with a double and scored on a base hit by Joey Bellini. Two walks loaded the bases for Bumpass who singled off the wall in right to score one. Mercer earned two more RBI later with a double to right field. With runners on second and third, two passed balls let in both runners and made it a 9-3 UC advantage
Top of the 6th
• A double and single allowed Wichita State to get one of those runs back in the next inning
Bottom of the 6th
• However, UC kept it a six-run lead when Bellini reached on an error and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch
// UP NEXT
• UC has no midweek baseball next week due to finals, but action will be back at Marge Schott Stadium next weekend when UC hosts nationally-ranked ECU
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Bearcats entered the day sitting in sole place of third in the conference standings, and the win will keep them there with three weeks left in the regular season. UC was picked eighth in the preseason AAC poll. The top eight of nine teams in the conference qualify for the AAC Tournament in Clearwater, Florida later in May.
// NOTABLES
• UC reaches .500 on the season with a 22-22 record and is now 11-7 in the AAC
• Wichita State falls to 20-23 and 5-10
• After starter Garrett Schoenle pitched the first 3.0 frames, Nick Murray entered the game and went the distance
• Murray was solid, giving up just one run and three hits while walking none. He earned his third win of the season
• Jace Mercer had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI
• A.J. Bumpass went 2-for-3 with two runs score and two RBI
• Eric Santiago also had a double and Joey Wiemer scored three runs despite going hitless as he walked twice
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The Shockers took an early lead on a two walks, a single and a fielder's choice
Top of the 2nd
• Wichita State added to its lead with two more walks and a throwing error
Bottom of the 2nd
• The Bearcats got both runs back in the second. Wiemer led off with a walk and stole second before Bumpass was also issued a base on balls. Griffin Merritt moved both runners over on a ground out and Mercer sent both home on a single
Top of the 3rd
• The Shockers took the lead back with a run in the third via a solo homerun to left field
Bottom of the 4th
• UC was able to tie the game at three when Wiemer reached on an error, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a Bumpass base hit up the middle
Bottom of the 5th
• It remained tied until the Bearcats were able to produce six runs in the fifth. Santiago started it off with a double and scored on a base hit by Joey Bellini. Two walks loaded the bases for Bumpass who singled off the wall in right to score one. Mercer earned two more RBI later with a double to right field. With runners on second and third, two passed balls let in both runners and made it a 9-3 UC advantage
Top of the 6th
• A double and single allowed Wichita State to get one of those runs back in the next inning
Bottom of the 6th
• However, UC kept it a six-run lead when Bellini reached on an error and scored later in the inning on a wild pitch
// UP NEXT
• UC has no midweek baseball next week due to finals, but action will be back at Marge Schott Stadium next weekend when UC hosts nationally-ranked ECU
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.