TicketsCLEMSON, S.C. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team battled back all day long, forced extra innings, but lost on a 10th-inning walkoff to No. 25 Clemson, 8-7, on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.
Cincinnati (0-3) trailed 4-0 after the first inning, 6-2 after four, scored three in the fifth and two in the eighth to knot things up at 7-7 and send the game to extra innings. The Bearcats got a strong outing from the bullpen who retired 13-straight Tigers after surrendering a run in the bottom of the fifth.
Nathan Moore (0-2) took his second loss of the weekend. He sat down the first six batters he faced before giving up a pair of hits to start the 10th inning and was pulled for Zach Segal. A wild pitch advanced the Clemson runners and with the defense pulled in, Clemson's James Parker singled to left center to plate the game-winning run and secure the series sweep.
Clemson jumped on UC starter Garrett Schoenle early, plating four runs in the bottom of the first before UC recorded an out. Wright led off with a single and Brewer followed it up with a home run to left center on a full count. Schoenle's next pitch hit Bryar Hawkins and then Parker homered down the left-field line to make the lead 4-0. The next three batters were put down in order to end the frame.
UC came right back with two runs in the top of the second with a Griffin Merritt walk and Jace Mercer single leading to an RBI single up the middle by Jake Murray to score Merrit and get the Bearcats on the board. Tanner Holen grounded into a 3-6-3 double play but Mercer scored on the play.
The Bearcats got three back in the fifth after Powell led off with a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error which also allowed Santiago to reach on a fielder's choice. A Joey Bellini single down the first-base line scored Powell and a Merritt pop up with two outs was mishandled and scored Bellini and Santiago, making the score 6-3.
After Clemson added a run in the bottom of the fifth, UC's bullpen shut down the Tigers until the 10th and the Bearcats knotted pulled even with two runs in the eighth. Mercer led off with a single and Stapp later hit a one out single which advanced Mercer to third. Stapp took second on a wild pitch and Powell walked to load the bases. Paul Komistek reached on a fielder's choice which scored Mercer and a Santiago single scored Stapp. UC left two runners on and stranded seven for the game and the Bearcats played their first extra-innings contest since the 2020 season opener at Georgia State.
UC LEADERS
• Merritt had two RBI, a hit and run scored.
• Mercer finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.
• Bellini was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
• Stapp was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and run scored.
• Powell drew two walks and scored a run.
• Schoenle went three and a third innings, scattering six runs, six hits and striking out five.
• Beau Keathley pitched two scoreless innings with a strikeout.
UP NEXT
UC is back on the road next weekend, heading to Western Kentucky for a three-game series against the Hilltoppers. First pitch from Bowling Green is slated for 3 p.m. ET on Friday, 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
WKU is opening its season on Sunday, Feb. 21, facing North Dakota State in a three-game set on Sunday and Monday ahead of a midweek game at Vanderbilt on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati baseball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow UC baseball (@GoBearcatsBase) and Coach Googins (@CoachGoogs) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
Cincinnati (0-3) trailed 4-0 after the first inning, 6-2 after four, scored three in the fifth and two in the eighth to knot things up at 7-7 and send the game to extra innings. The Bearcats got a strong outing from the bullpen who retired 13-straight Tigers after surrendering a run in the bottom of the fifth.
Nathan Moore (0-2) took his second loss of the weekend. He sat down the first six batters he faced before giving up a pair of hits to start the 10th inning and was pulled for Zach Segal. A wild pitch advanced the Clemson runners and with the defense pulled in, Clemson's James Parker singled to left center to plate the game-winning run and secure the series sweep.
Clemson jumped on UC starter Garrett Schoenle early, plating four runs in the bottom of the first before UC recorded an out. Wright led off with a single and Brewer followed it up with a home run to left center on a full count. Schoenle's next pitch hit Bryar Hawkins and then Parker homered down the left-field line to make the lead 4-0. The next three batters were put down in order to end the frame.
UC came right back with two runs in the top of the second with a Griffin Merritt walk and Jace Mercer single leading to an RBI single up the middle by Jake Murray to score Merrit and get the Bearcats on the board. Tanner Holen grounded into a 3-6-3 double play but Mercer scored on the play.
The Bearcats got three back in the fifth after Powell led off with a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error which also allowed Santiago to reach on a fielder's choice. A Joey Bellini single down the first-base line scored Powell and a Merritt pop up with two outs was mishandled and scored Bellini and Santiago, making the score 6-3.
After Clemson added a run in the bottom of the fifth, UC's bullpen shut down the Tigers until the 10th and the Bearcats knotted pulled even with two runs in the eighth. Mercer led off with a single and Stapp later hit a one out single which advanced Mercer to third. Stapp took second on a wild pitch and Powell walked to load the bases. Paul Komistek reached on a fielder's choice which scored Mercer and a Santiago single scored Stapp. UC left two runners on and stranded seven for the game and the Bearcats played their first extra-innings contest since the 2020 season opener at Georgia State.
UC LEADERS
• Merritt had two RBI, a hit and run scored.
• Mercer finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.
• Bellini was 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
• Stapp was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and run scored.
• Powell drew two walks and scored a run.
• Schoenle went three and a third innings, scattering six runs, six hits and striking out five.
• Beau Keathley pitched two scoreless innings with a strikeout.
UP NEXT
UC is back on the road next weekend, heading to Western Kentucky for a three-game series against the Hilltoppers. First pitch from Bowling Green is slated for 3 p.m. ET on Friday, 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
WKU is opening its season on Sunday, Feb. 21, facing North Dakota State in a three-game set on Sunday and Monday ahead of a midweek game at Vanderbilt on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati baseball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow UC baseball (@GoBearcatsBase) and Coach Googins (@CoachGoogs) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.