TicketsBOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team dropped its second-straight extra-innings game, losing 5-4 in a 12-inning battle at Western Kentucky's Nick Denes Field on Friday.
A double by the Hilltoppers 3B Eric Riffe with runners on the corners and one out in the 12th off UC reliever Zach Segal scored the game-winning runs and handed the Bearcats a fourth-straight loss to open the season.
Cincinnati (0-4) had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the inning after an RBI groundout by Joey Bellini scored Cole Harting to break a 3-3 tie. Harting and Eric Santiago hit back-to-back singles and later advanced on a wild pitch before Bellini's poke up the middle.
The Bearcats took the lead on four different occasions and each time, the Hilltoppers (2-3) had an answer. UC was its own worst enemy at times, stranding eight runners and hitting five batters, including three-straight WKU batters on consecutive pitches in the bottom of the ninth which loaded the bases and led to the game-tying run.
The game started on a great note with a Jace Mercer home run on the first pitch he saw with one out in the top of the fourth to put the Bearcats in the driver's seat. Starer Evan Shawver pitched a gem, going 6.0 innings with a season-best nine strikeouts and giving up a single hit to the Hilltoppers in the no decision.
NOTABLE
• Ryan Nicholson lined a sacrifice to center in the eighth to score Santiago.
• Jake Murray roped a leadoff triple to right center in the top of the ninth and later scored on a passed ball to give UC a 3-2 edge.
• UC tied a season-best with 10 hits featuring Santiago and Bellini both hitting a pair.
UP NEXT
The teams will close out the series with a Saturday twin bill featuring two nine-inning games in Bowling Green. The first game will start at noon ET as UC LHP Dean McCarthy gets the nod on the hill and will face WKU RHP Sean Bergeron. An audio stream and live stats are available.
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.
A double by the Hilltoppers 3B Eric Riffe with runners on the corners and one out in the 12th off UC reliever Zach Segal scored the game-winning runs and handed the Bearcats a fourth-straight loss to open the season.
Cincinnati (0-4) had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the inning after an RBI groundout by Joey Bellini scored Cole Harting to break a 3-3 tie. Harting and Eric Santiago hit back-to-back singles and later advanced on a wild pitch before Bellini's poke up the middle.
The Bearcats took the lead on four different occasions and each time, the Hilltoppers (2-3) had an answer. UC was its own worst enemy at times, stranding eight runners and hitting five batters, including three-straight WKU batters on consecutive pitches in the bottom of the ninth which loaded the bases and led to the game-tying run.
The game started on a great note with a Jace Mercer home run on the first pitch he saw with one out in the top of the fourth to put the Bearcats in the driver's seat. Starer Evan Shawver pitched a gem, going 6.0 innings with a season-best nine strikeouts and giving up a single hit to the Hilltoppers in the no decision.
NOTABLE
• Ryan Nicholson lined a sacrifice to center in the eighth to score Santiago.
• Jake Murray roped a leadoff triple to right center in the top of the ninth and later scored on a passed ball to give UC a 3-2 edge.
• UC tied a season-best with 10 hits featuring Santiago and Bellini both hitting a pair.
UP NEXT
The teams will close out the series with a Saturday twin bill featuring two nine-inning games in Bowling Green. The first game will start at noon ET as UC LHP Dean McCarthy gets the nod on the hill and will face WKU RHP Sean Bergeron. An audio stream and live stats are available.
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.