TicketsSTORRS, Conn. – University of Cincinnati baseball started the series at No. 22 UConn with a big 5-4 victory behind strong pitching performances.
A.J. Kullman went toe-to-toe with the American Athletic Conference preseason Pitcher of the Year Mason Feole and outdueled him. The senior starter's final line read one run, six hits, no walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Nathan Moore followed with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief before Korren Thompson earned the save with three strikeouts in the ninth.
// NOTABLES
• UC improves to 12-16 on the season while UConn falls to 18-11
• Both teams now sit at 4-3 in conference play
• Joey Bellini had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, RBI, walk and run scored
• Joey Wiemer had the biggest hit of the day, a three-run homerun to get the Bearcats on the board in the third inning
• A.J. Bumpass also had an extra-base, a double
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 3rd
• The Bearcats got out to a nice start with a three-run third. Bellini walked and Wyatt Stapp singled before Wiemer crushed a pitch over the left field fence for a homerun
Top of the 4th
• UC tacked on another run when Bumpass doubled and reached third on an error. Cole Murphy then singled him home
Bottom of the 4th
• The Huskies were able to break through with a run in the fifth on a double, single and sacrifice fly
Top of the 8th
• In the eighth, Murphy walked and Johnson was hit by a pitch to put two on. Bellini reached base for his fourth time in the game with a RBI single to center field
Bottom of the 9th
• UConn looked to rally late but Thompson was able to get the job done. The Huskies scored three with two-outs on two walks and two doubles, but a full-count strikeout ended the game
// UP NEXT
• The series continues with a 2 p.m. game Saturday at Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford, Conn. The teams will also conclude the series there on Sunday at noon
• Next week will be a busy one at Marge Schott Stadium
• The Bearcats host the annual Joe Nuxhall Classic on Tuesday and Wednesday then UC hosts UCF April 12-14
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A.J. Kullman went toe-to-toe with the American Athletic Conference preseason Pitcher of the Year Mason Feole and outdueled him. The senior starter's final line read one run, six hits, no walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Nathan Moore followed with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief before Korren Thompson earned the save with three strikeouts in the ninth.
// NOTABLES
• UC improves to 12-16 on the season while UConn falls to 18-11
• Both teams now sit at 4-3 in conference play
• Joey Bellini had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, RBI, walk and run scored
• Joey Wiemer had the biggest hit of the day, a three-run homerun to get the Bearcats on the board in the third inning
• A.J. Bumpass also had an extra-base, a double
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 3rd
• The Bearcats got out to a nice start with a three-run third. Bellini walked and Wyatt Stapp singled before Wiemer crushed a pitch over the left field fence for a homerun
Top of the 4th
• UC tacked on another run when Bumpass doubled and reached third on an error. Cole Murphy then singled him home
Bottom of the 4th
• The Huskies were able to break through with a run in the fifth on a double, single and sacrifice fly
Top of the 8th
• In the eighth, Murphy walked and Johnson was hit by a pitch to put two on. Bellini reached base for his fourth time in the game with a RBI single to center field
Bottom of the 9th
• UConn looked to rally late but Thompson was able to get the job done. The Huskies scored three with two-outs on two walks and two doubles, but a full-count strikeout ended the game
// UP NEXT
• The series continues with a 2 p.m. game Saturday at Dunkin' Donuts Park in Hartford, Conn. The teams will also conclude the series there on Sunday at noon
• Next week will be a busy one at Marge Schott Stadium
• The Bearcats host the annual Joe Nuxhall Classic on Tuesday and Wednesday then UC hosts UCF April 12-14
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.