TicketsTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – University of Cincinnati baseball grabbed an early lead but could not hold off No. 12 Florida State Friday night in the series-opener, losing 11-4.
// NOTABLES
• Evan Shawver had a great start on the mound, going 5.0 innings with one run, no hits, four walks and nine strikeouts. He left the game with the lead
• Jace Mercer had a big day at the plate, doubleing in his first two at-bats then hitting a solo homerun in his final plate appearance
• Griffin Merritt had two hits on the day with a run scored
• Jeremy Johnson had a double
• Joey Bellini went 1-for-3 with two walks
• Eric Santiago extended his reach base streak to 27 games with a single and a walk
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
The Bearcats once again started the day scoring. Mercer led off with a double, stole third and then ran home on a throwing error on the play
Top of the 2nd
UC added another as Mercer stayed hot in the next inning. Merritt singled to start the inning then came home when Mercer doubled to right field for the RBI
Bottom of the 4th
The Seminoles got on the board on a hit batter, walk, stolen base and wild pitch. However, Shawver hung on to the lead by striking out the next two batters, the first looking and the next swinging.
Top of the 6th
UC got a run back in the sixth when Joey reached second base on an error. He would come in to score on a Bellini base hit
Bottom of the 6th
Down 3-1, Florida State took a one-run lead on an error, double and three-run homerun
Bottom of the 7th
The Seminoles had their biggest frame in the seventh, scoring four runs. It started with a single, walk and bunt single to load the bases. A ground out allowed the first run to cross home. After another walk loaded the bases, a bit batter scored another run and a two-run base hit gave FSU the lead
Top of the 8th
The Bearcats once again showed they can score late. Mercer continued his big night with a solo shot over the right field wall on the third pitch of the inning
Bottom of the 8th
FSU got the run back and then some with a three-run frame. A hit batter came around to score on a double. A passed ball and sacrifice fly brought in the runner from second. The final run of the game came on a bases-loaded walk
// UP NEXT
The series continues with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
// NOTABLES
• Evan Shawver had a great start on the mound, going 5.0 innings with one run, no hits, four walks and nine strikeouts. He left the game with the lead
• Jace Mercer had a big day at the plate, doubleing in his first two at-bats then hitting a solo homerun in his final plate appearance
• Griffin Merritt had two hits on the day with a run scored
• Jeremy Johnson had a double
• Joey Bellini went 1-for-3 with two walks
• Eric Santiago extended his reach base streak to 27 games with a single and a walk
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
The Bearcats once again started the day scoring. Mercer led off with a double, stole third and then ran home on a throwing error on the play
Top of the 2nd
UC added another as Mercer stayed hot in the next inning. Merritt singled to start the inning then came home when Mercer doubled to right field for the RBI
Bottom of the 4th
The Seminoles got on the board on a hit batter, walk, stolen base and wild pitch. However, Shawver hung on to the lead by striking out the next two batters, the first looking and the next swinging.
Top of the 6th
UC got a run back in the sixth when Joey reached second base on an error. He would come in to score on a Bellini base hit
Bottom of the 6th
Down 3-1, Florida State took a one-run lead on an error, double and three-run homerun
Bottom of the 7th
The Seminoles had their biggest frame in the seventh, scoring four runs. It started with a single, walk and bunt single to load the bases. A ground out allowed the first run to cross home. After another walk loaded the bases, a bit batter scored another run and a two-run base hit gave FSU the lead
Top of the 8th
The Bearcats once again showed they can score late. Mercer continued his big night with a solo shot over the right field wall on the third pitch of the inning
Bottom of the 8th
FSU got the run back and then some with a three-run frame. A hit batter came around to score on a double. A passed ball and sacrifice fly brought in the runner from second. The final run of the game came on a bases-loaded walk
// UP NEXT
The series continues with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.