TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati baseball dropped both games of a double header on Friday against No. 8 ECU. UC fell 9-4 and 6-3.
The league-leading Pirates improve to 35-11 on the year and 15-2 in conference while the Bearcats fall to 22-24 and 11-9.
GAME ONE
// NOTABLES
• Evan Shawver lasted just 2.1 innings in the start but the bullpen threw well
• Chase Stewart gave up a walk then retired the next 11 batters he faced. He finished after 4.0 innings with one earned run and two hits
• Jackson Murphy did not give up a hit in the next 1.2 frames while Brennan Dolwick threw a scoreless ninth
• Cole Murphy went 2-for-2 with a double after entering the game as a pinch hitter
• Eric Santiago and Joey Bellini also hit doubles in the series-opener
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The Pirates got off to a big start with a four-run first. Those runs came via a walk, double, two singles, another walk and another RBI base hit
Top of the 3rd
• A leadoff walk turned into three more runs for ECU. After the base on balls, the Pirates hit a double, a single and a sacrifice fly to bring the lead to 7-0
Top of the 7th
• The scoring was quiet until ECU plated two in the seventh. A single, error and double allowed two to come home
Bottom of the 8th
• The Bearcats were able to bring runs across late. Two runs came in after a Murphy single, Nate Meyer single and Jace Mercer base hit. Meyer scored later when J.P. Bitzenhofer joined with a RBI single
Bottom of the 9th
• Two more runs came in in the final frame. Santiago started it off with a double before Murphy traded places on a double of his own. An error to Meyer extended the inning and scored Murphy, but a ground out ended the game
GAME TWO
// NOTABLES
• David Orndorff went 6.0 innings in the start and struck out seven while getting the loss
• A.J. Kullman followed with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief and Korren Thompson threw a scoreless ninth
• Joey Wiemer had two hits in the second game
• Griffin Merritt and Jace Mercer each had a double. Mercer led the team with two RBI
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 2nd
• The Pirates scored first for the second time, bringing three runs across in the second. A hit batter, single, walk and double gave the Pirates the early lead
Top of the 3rd
• Another double and a sacrifice fly allowed ECU to tack on another run
Bottom of the 4th
• A three-run frame by UC made it a one-run game. Wiemer singled, Merritt walked and Mercer doubled to score both runners. Mason DeAnna kept the momentum going with a sacrifice fly after Jeremy Johnson singled to put runners on the corners
Top of the 5th
• Unfortunately, ECU was able to get two runs back in the fifth. A single, error, double and a ground out put the score at 6-3
// UP NEXT
• The two teams will not play on Saturday due to forecasted inclement weather, but will complete the series on Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
• UC's seniors will be honored pregame in a ceremony set to begin at about 12:35 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The league-leading Pirates improve to 35-11 on the year and 15-2 in conference while the Bearcats fall to 22-24 and 11-9.
GAME ONE
// NOTABLES
• Evan Shawver lasted just 2.1 innings in the start but the bullpen threw well
• Chase Stewart gave up a walk then retired the next 11 batters he faced. He finished after 4.0 innings with one earned run and two hits
• Jackson Murphy did not give up a hit in the next 1.2 frames while Brennan Dolwick threw a scoreless ninth
• Cole Murphy went 2-for-2 with a double after entering the game as a pinch hitter
• Eric Santiago and Joey Bellini also hit doubles in the series-opener
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
• The Pirates got off to a big start with a four-run first. Those runs came via a walk, double, two singles, another walk and another RBI base hit
Top of the 3rd
• A leadoff walk turned into three more runs for ECU. After the base on balls, the Pirates hit a double, a single and a sacrifice fly to bring the lead to 7-0
Top of the 7th
• The scoring was quiet until ECU plated two in the seventh. A single, error and double allowed two to come home
Bottom of the 8th
• The Bearcats were able to bring runs across late. Two runs came in after a Murphy single, Nate Meyer single and Jace Mercer base hit. Meyer scored later when J.P. Bitzenhofer joined with a RBI single
Bottom of the 9th
• Two more runs came in in the final frame. Santiago started it off with a double before Murphy traded places on a double of his own. An error to Meyer extended the inning and scored Murphy, but a ground out ended the game
GAME TWO
// NOTABLES
• David Orndorff went 6.0 innings in the start and struck out seven while getting the loss
• A.J. Kullman followed with 2.0 scoreless innings of relief and Korren Thompson threw a scoreless ninth
• Joey Wiemer had two hits in the second game
• Griffin Merritt and Jace Mercer each had a double. Mercer led the team with two RBI
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 2nd
• The Pirates scored first for the second time, bringing three runs across in the second. A hit batter, single, walk and double gave the Pirates the early lead
Top of the 3rd
• Another double and a sacrifice fly allowed ECU to tack on another run
Bottom of the 4th
• A three-run frame by UC made it a one-run game. Wiemer singled, Merritt walked and Mercer doubled to score both runners. Mason DeAnna kept the momentum going with a sacrifice fly after Jeremy Johnson singled to put runners on the corners
Top of the 5th
• Unfortunately, ECU was able to get two runs back in the fifth. A single, error, double and a ground out put the score at 6-3
// UP NEXT
• The two teams will not play on Saturday due to forecasted inclement weather, but will complete the series on Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
• UC's seniors will be honored pregame in a ceremony set to begin at about 12:35 p.m.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.