TicketsMEMPHIS, TENN. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team had an early lead but gave up four runs in the sixth and lost 7-5 at Memphis in American Athletic Conference action on Saturday at FedExPark.
Cincinnati (16-17, 5-7 AAC) led 4-0 after 1.5 innings and 5-2 after five but things went awry in the bottom of the sixth. A hit batsman and double with one out chased starter Beau Keathley from the game. Ian Bibiloni singled the first pitch he saw from reliever Dean McCarthy into center field and plated two runs to knot things up at 5-5.
McCarthy struck out the next batter swinging but a stolen base, walk and balk put Memphis (12-21, 2-9 AAC) runners on second and third with two outs. Zach Wilson was up next and hit an RBI single which scored the go-ahead runs to give the Tigers their first lead of the day.
UC had only one hit over the last three innings, a ninth-inning, leadoff double by Jace Mercer. McCarthy (2-3) took the loss while Memphis' Bailey Wimberley (2-0) took the win and Takoda Metoxen picked up the save.
Mercer started UC's three-run scoring effort in the first with a one-out single to left. Joey Bellini, Eric Santiago, Paul Komistek and Ryan Nicholson followed with consecutive RBI singles and the Bearcats were on the board early.
Bellini doubled in Cole Harting in the second and. Komistek plated Santiago with a single to center field in the fifth.
NOTABLE
• Santiago was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He was robbed of a three-run homer in the top of the sixth after Bibiloni pulled one back from over the wall.
• Mercer finished with three hits, including his late double and a run scored.
• Bellini was 2-for-5 with a double, run scored and RBI.
• Keathley, making his second start at UC, went 5.1 innings and gave up four runs on three hits, striking out four, walking two and tying a school record with five hit batters.
UP NEXT
The teams conclude the weekend with a 2 p.m. ET game at FedExPark Sunday.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Baseball season-ticket packages for 2021 are on sale, priced at $50 for adults and $30 for youths (aged 4-12), seniors (age 65 and up), UC faculty and staff and members of the military. Get your season tickets to lock in your seats! Make your purchase online.
Make your purchase online today! Contact the Bearcats Ticket Office at 1-877-CATS-TIX with any questions.
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 (16-17, 5-7 AAC) led 4-0 after 1.5 innings and 5-2 after five but things went awry in the bottom of the sixth. A hit batsman and double with one out chased starter Beau Keathley from the game. Ian Bibiloni singled the first pitch he saw from reliever Dean McCarthy into center field and plated two runs to knot things up at 5-5.
McCarthy struck out the next batter swinging but a stolen base, walk and balk put Memphis (12-21, 2-9 AAC) runners on second and third with two outs. Zach Wilson was up next and hit an RBI single which scored the go-ahead runs to give the Tigers their first lead of the day.
UC had only one hit over the last three innings, a ninth-inning, leadoff double by Jace Mercer. McCarthy (2-3) took the loss while Memphis' Bailey Wimberley (2-0) took the win and Takoda Metoxen picked up the save.
Mercer started UC's three-run scoring effort in the first with a one-out single to left. Joey Bellini, Eric Santiago, Paul Komistek and Ryan Nicholson followed with consecutive RBI singles and the Bearcats were on the board early.
Bellini doubled in Cole Harting in the second and. Komistek plated Santiago with a single to center field in the fifth.
NOTABLE
• Santiago was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. He was robbed of a three-run homer in the top of the sixth after Bibiloni pulled one back from over the wall.
• Mercer finished with three hits, including his late double and a run scored.
• Bellini was 2-for-5 with a double, run scored and RBI.
• Keathley, making his second start at UC, went 5.1 innings and gave up four runs on three hits, striking out four, walking two and tying a school record with five hit batters.
UP NEXT
The teams conclude the weekend with a 2 p.m. ET game at FedExPark Sunday.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Baseball season-ticket packages for 2021 are on sale, priced at $50 for adults and $30 for youths (aged 4-12), seniors (age 65 and up), UC faculty and staff and members of the military. Get your season tickets to lock in your seats! Make your purchase online.
Make your purchase online today! Contact the Bearcats Ticket Office at 1-877-CATS-TIX with any questions.
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.