TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball dropped a 14-10 slug fest to UNCW on Thursday at Brooks Field.
The teams combined for 24 runs on 25 hits with six home runs and 11 runners stranded. Cincinnati (1-6) battled back on several occasions but UCNW (5-1) answered every time and two runs in the eighth made the gap too much to overcome.
Joe Powell had himself a day, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI, a walk and stolen base. It was the first two-home run game for a UC player since Manny Rodriguez did it at UCF on April 15, 2018. Rodriguez, a New York Mets prospect wrapping up a season with the Sydney Blue Sox, was named the Australian Baseball League's Defensive MVP on Thursday.
NOTABLE
• Drake Batcho (0-2) took the loss in his first start of the season. Brendan Gorham (1-0) picked up the win in a three-inning relief appearance.
• Joey Bellini had a three-hit game, plating three RBI and scoring a run.
• Jace Mercer had a pair of hits and a run scored.
• Griffin Merritt had a double and batted in a pair of runs.
• Eric Santiago hit his fourth double of the season and scored a run.
• Cole Harting hit a pair, scored a run and drew a walk.
• Ryan Nicholson also had a home run and scored twice.
KEY INNINGS
BOTTOM 1
UNCW put three on the board, getting a single and run-scoring double before the first out was recorded. The Seahawks loaded the bases with two outs and plated two more runs on a single to center field.
BOTTOM 3
The Bearcats walked the bases loaded on 10 pitches to start the third and UNCW took advantage, scoring two runs on a failed pickoff attempt. A two-out double down the line added the third run of the inning and UC was in a 6-0 hole.
BOTTOM 4
UNCW chased Batcho from the game following a hit batsman to start the frame and a two-run home to center with one out. UNCW led 8-0.
TOP 5
After recording only one hit in the first three innings, UC's bats woke up and scored seven runs to get back within one at 8-7. Mercer singled up the middle with one out and Powell hammered the second pitch he saw over the wall in left center. Harting followed with a single and after a Santiago double to left center, UNCW pulled starter Jacob Shafer. Bellini singled up the middle to score two and Wyatt Stapp followed with a double to score Bellini. Nicholson walked and the Seahawks made another pitching change. Merritt doubled down the left-field line to plate Nicholson and Stapp. Batting around, Mercer field out to center to end the inning.
BOTTOM 5
UNCW pulled back away with three in the inning on a pair of singles which combined to plate three runs and make it 11-7.
TOP 6
Powell hit the first pitch he saw to left field for his second dinger of the game.
BOTTOM 7
UNCW hit a solo shot to center with two outs to move the score to 12-8.
TOP 8
UC made it 12-9 in the eighth following a Bellini two-out single to left which scored Powell.
BOTTOM 8
The long ball came into play again as the Seahawks scored two on a homer to right center, making the score 14-9.
TOP 9
Keeping with the theme of the game, Nicholson hit one over the fence in center to make it 14-10 but UC couldn't keep the late rally going and the game ended on a ground out.
UP NEXT
The second game of the four-game set takes place Friday at 4 p.m. ET. LHP Evan Shawver is slated to face UCNW RHP Landon Roupp. The Seahawk Digital Network will stream Thursday and Friday's games and live stats will also be available. For more information, visit UNCWSports.com/coverage.
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.
The teams combined for 24 runs on 25 hits with six home runs and 11 runners stranded. Cincinnati (1-6) battled back on several occasions but UCNW (5-1) answered every time and two runs in the eighth made the gap too much to overcome.
Joe Powell had himself a day, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI, a walk and stolen base. It was the first two-home run game for a UC player since Manny Rodriguez did it at UCF on April 15, 2018. Rodriguez, a New York Mets prospect wrapping up a season with the Sydney Blue Sox, was named the Australian Baseball League's Defensive MVP on Thursday.
NOTABLE
• Drake Batcho (0-2) took the loss in his first start of the season. Brendan Gorham (1-0) picked up the win in a three-inning relief appearance.
• Joey Bellini had a three-hit game, plating three RBI and scoring a run.
• Jace Mercer had a pair of hits and a run scored.
• Griffin Merritt had a double and batted in a pair of runs.
• Eric Santiago hit his fourth double of the season and scored a run.
• Cole Harting hit a pair, scored a run and drew a walk.
• Ryan Nicholson also had a home run and scored twice.
KEY INNINGS
BOTTOM 1
UNCW put three on the board, getting a single and run-scoring double before the first out was recorded. The Seahawks loaded the bases with two outs and plated two more runs on a single to center field.
BOTTOM 3
The Bearcats walked the bases loaded on 10 pitches to start the third and UNCW took advantage, scoring two runs on a failed pickoff attempt. A two-out double down the line added the third run of the inning and UC was in a 6-0 hole.
BOTTOM 4
UNCW chased Batcho from the game following a hit batsman to start the frame and a two-run home to center with one out. UNCW led 8-0.
TOP 5
After recording only one hit in the first three innings, UC's bats woke up and scored seven runs to get back within one at 8-7. Mercer singled up the middle with one out and Powell hammered the second pitch he saw over the wall in left center. Harting followed with a single and after a Santiago double to left center, UNCW pulled starter Jacob Shafer. Bellini singled up the middle to score two and Wyatt Stapp followed with a double to score Bellini. Nicholson walked and the Seahawks made another pitching change. Merritt doubled down the left-field line to plate Nicholson and Stapp. Batting around, Mercer field out to center to end the inning.
BOTTOM 5
UNCW pulled back away with three in the inning on a pair of singles which combined to plate three runs and make it 11-7.
TOP 6
Powell hit the first pitch he saw to left field for his second dinger of the game.
BOTTOM 7
UNCW hit a solo shot to center with two outs to move the score to 12-8.
TOP 8
UC made it 12-9 in the eighth following a Bellini two-out single to left which scored Powell.
BOTTOM 8
The long ball came into play again as the Seahawks scored two on a homer to right center, making the score 14-9.
TOP 9
Keeping with the theme of the game, Nicholson hit one over the fence in center to make it 14-10 but UC couldn't keep the late rally going and the game ended on a ground out.
UP NEXT
The second game of the four-game set takes place Friday at 4 p.m. ET. LHP Evan Shawver is slated to face UCNW RHP Landon Roupp. The Seahawk Digital Network will stream Thursday and Friday's games and live stats will also be available. For more information, visit UNCWSports.com/coverage.
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.