TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati baseball swept a Sunday doubleheader against Oakland in dramatic fashion as the Bearcats also swept the four-game series.
After winning game one of the day by a score of 11-5, Eric Santiago came up with the bases-loaded, two-out hit in the bottom of the seventh in game two to secure the day and series sweep.
GAME ONE • CINCINNATI 11, OAKLAND 5
// NOTABLES
• Jace Mercer went 3-for-3 with three runs, a double, a walk and RBI
• Griffin Merritt drove in three while going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored
• Jake Hansen was 2-for-3 with a homerun, double and four RBI
• Ryan Nicholson finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored
• Jeremy Johnson hit a double and scored two runs
• Garrett Schoenle went 2.2 innings in the start
• Nathan Moore followed and earned the win after 2.1 frames with no runs, one hit, one walk and four strikeouts
• Evan Kemp pitched a scoreless frame with two strikeouts and Jacob Meyer threw the final inning with two more strikeouts
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 3rd
Oakland took the lead on two walks, two singles and another walk and base hit to score four in the third
Bottom of the 3rd
The Bearcats got one back when Mercer raced out an infield single and Merritt hit him home on a double to center field
Bottom of the 4th
Hansen cut the lead in half with a solo homerun over the wall in right center. Then, UC put together a big inning with two outs. Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, Mercer singled and Wiemer walked to load the bases. Merritt was hit to bring a run home before Nicholson drove in two with a single. Hansen later walked with bases loaded and then advanced on a wild pitch that allowed Mercer then Nicholson to score
Bottom of the 5th
Johnson and Mercer hit back-to-back doubles to get another scoring spree. Merritt singled home Mercer. After Nicholson walked and Komistek hit an infield single, Hansen doubled to left center to score two more
Top of the 7th
A walk and triple allowed the Golden Grizzlies to tally one more run in the final inning
GAME TWO • CINCINNATI 5, OAKLAND 4
With bases loaded and two outs, Santiago was captain clutch with a would-of-been double to walk-off. In a 1-2 count, Santiago fouled off a pitch, took a ball, fouled off another pitch then smashed a shot that landed in left center, allowing the winning run to score.
// NOTABLES
• Santiago went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and RBI
• Wiemer and Johnson both had doubles and Merritt had a triple
• Drake Batcho went 3.2 innings in the start with two runs, three hits and six strikeouts
• Nick Murray followed with 1.2 innings of relief
• Chase Stewart also threw 1.2 innings, picking up the win
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
Oakland got on board first in game two with a single, walk and two wild pitches
Top of the 3rd
The Golden Grizzlies added another on a solo homerun out to left field
Bottom of the 3rd
The Bearcats answered back and took the lead with a three-run third. With two outs, Mercer walked, Wiemer doubled him home. Merritt followed with a RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch
Bottom of the 4th
UC tacked another run on when JP Bitzenhofer walked, stole second and scored on a Nate Meyer base hit
Top of the 6th
Oakland kept it a close game when a walk, two wild pitches and a single allowed a run to score to bring its deficit to just one run
Top of the 7th
The Golden Grizzlies tied the game on a solo homerun. It appeared that they might have took the lead after a double and sacrifice fly, but the runner on third left early for the final out of the inning
Bottom of the 7th
Johnson led off with a double before Wiemer was intentionally walked Merritt walked on four pitches to load the bases. Santiago ripped the game-winning hit to left center to win it
// UP NEXT
• UC travels to Kentucky for a midweek contest on Tuesday
• The Bearcats return home to host Eastern Michigan in a three-game series next weekend
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
After winning game one of the day by a score of 11-5, Eric Santiago came up with the bases-loaded, two-out hit in the bottom of the seventh in game two to secure the day and series sweep.
GAME ONE • CINCINNATI 11, OAKLAND 5
// NOTABLES
• Jace Mercer went 3-for-3 with three runs, a double, a walk and RBI
• Griffin Merritt drove in three while going 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored
• Jake Hansen was 2-for-3 with a homerun, double and four RBI
• Ryan Nicholson finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored
• Jeremy Johnson hit a double and scored two runs
• Garrett Schoenle went 2.2 innings in the start
• Nathan Moore followed and earned the win after 2.1 frames with no runs, one hit, one walk and four strikeouts
• Evan Kemp pitched a scoreless frame with two strikeouts and Jacob Meyer threw the final inning with two more strikeouts
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 3rd
Oakland took the lead on two walks, two singles and another walk and base hit to score four in the third
Bottom of the 3rd
The Bearcats got one back when Mercer raced out an infield single and Merritt hit him home on a double to center field
Bottom of the 4th
Hansen cut the lead in half with a solo homerun over the wall in right center. Then, UC put together a big inning with two outs. Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, Mercer singled and Wiemer walked to load the bases. Merritt was hit to bring a run home before Nicholson drove in two with a single. Hansen later walked with bases loaded and then advanced on a wild pitch that allowed Mercer then Nicholson to score
Bottom of the 5th
Johnson and Mercer hit back-to-back doubles to get another scoring spree. Merritt singled home Mercer. After Nicholson walked and Komistek hit an infield single, Hansen doubled to left center to score two more
Top of the 7th
A walk and triple allowed the Golden Grizzlies to tally one more run in the final inning
GAME TWO • CINCINNATI 5, OAKLAND 4
With bases loaded and two outs, Santiago was captain clutch with a would-of-been double to walk-off. In a 1-2 count, Santiago fouled off a pitch, took a ball, fouled off another pitch then smashed a shot that landed in left center, allowing the winning run to score.
// NOTABLES
• Santiago went 2-for-3 with a double, walk and RBI
• Wiemer and Johnson both had doubles and Merritt had a triple
• Drake Batcho went 3.2 innings in the start with two runs, three hits and six strikeouts
• Nick Murray followed with 1.2 innings of relief
• Chase Stewart also threw 1.2 innings, picking up the win
// KEY INNINGS
Top of the 1st
Oakland got on board first in game two with a single, walk and two wild pitches
Top of the 3rd
The Golden Grizzlies added another on a solo homerun out to left field
Bottom of the 3rd
The Bearcats answered back and took the lead with a three-run third. With two outs, Mercer walked, Wiemer doubled him home. Merritt followed with a RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch
Bottom of the 4th
UC tacked another run on when JP Bitzenhofer walked, stole second and scored on a Nate Meyer base hit
Top of the 6th
Oakland kept it a close game when a walk, two wild pitches and a single allowed a run to score to bring its deficit to just one run
Top of the 7th
The Golden Grizzlies tied the game on a solo homerun. It appeared that they might have took the lead after a double and sacrifice fly, but the runner on third left early for the final out of the inning
Bottom of the 7th
Johnson led off with a double before Wiemer was intentionally walked Merritt walked on four pitches to load the bases. Santiago ripped the game-winning hit to left center to win it
// UP NEXT
• UC travels to Kentucky for a midweek contest on Tuesday
• The Bearcats return home to host Eastern Michigan in a three-game series next weekend
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.