TicketsBOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The University of Cincinnati baseball picked up its first win of the season with an 11-3 win in game two of a Saturday twin bill against Western Kentucky at Nick Denes Field.
Cincinnati (1-5) scored four runs in the second, one in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh and ninth to notch a season-best mark on the scoreboard in the young season.
Garrett Schoenle (1-0) picked up the win while WKU's Ryan O'Connell (0-2) took the loss. Schoenle went 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and a walk. A trio of relievers, Jose Guzman, Jalen Wade and Aiden Bradbury, gave up one hit of the final four innings of shutout ball, fanning seven.
NOTABLE
• Guzman and Bradbury made the collegiate debuts.
• Joey Bellini had the second four-hit game of his career and first since March 10, 2019 in the Joe Nuxhall Classic vs. Miami (OH).
• Griffin Merritt had a 3-for-5 day, scoring three runs, plating two RBI while hitting a double and a triple.
• Jake Hansen was 2-for-3, with 2 RBI, a double, two walks and he scored two runs.
• Jake Murray finished 2-for-4, with a pair of runs scored and RBI, a triple and a walk.
SCORING INNINGS
TOP OF THE SECOND
The Bearcats were on the board first again after Ryan Nicholson led off with a single and scored on Murray's triple. Merrit was next with a single to right center which brought Murray home. Hansen walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. A strike out notched the first WKU out of the inning, but a passed ball allowed Merrit to score and advanced Hansen to third. Another strike out led to the second out, but Eric Santiago walked, got caught in a run-down trying to steal second but stayed alive long enough for Hansen to score the fourth run of the inning.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Eric Riffe homered off Schoenle with one out and Jack Wilson doubled to left center. After a hit-by-pitch and strikeout, Davis Sims singled through the left side to score Wilson. Schoenle struck out the next batter to end the inning.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Cam Scheler led off with a double down the left-field line and scored after Bellini poked a one-out single and was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Wilson led off with a double and scored on a double by Ray Zuberer III.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Murray hit a one-out bunt single and legged out a score on a triple by Merritt. Hansen and Cole Harting walked to load the bases. Merrit scored on a wild pitch and Scheler walked. Santiago reached on a fielder's choice and Hansen scored. Belliini singled through the right side, Harting scored and UC had a 9-3 edge.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Hansen singled up the idle to score Ryan Nicholson who led the inning off with a single.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Merrit hit a one-out double to left field on the first pitch he saw, later scoring on a double by Hansen.
UP NEXT
UC is back on the road next weekend, playing a four-game set at UNC Wilmington from Thursday-Sunday. Games on Thursday-Saturday will feature a 4 p.m. ET first pitch while Sunday's closer will start at 1 p.m. ET. The Seahawk Digital Network will stream Thursday and Friday's games and FloBaseball will televise the weekend set. Live stats will also be 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.
Cincinnati (1-5) scored four runs in the second, one in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh and ninth to notch a season-best mark on the scoreboard in the young season.
Garrett Schoenle (1-0) picked up the win while WKU's Ryan O'Connell (0-2) took the loss. Schoenle went 5.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and a walk. A trio of relievers, Jose Guzman, Jalen Wade and Aiden Bradbury, gave up one hit of the final four innings of shutout ball, fanning seven.
NOTABLE
• Guzman and Bradbury made the collegiate debuts.
• Joey Bellini had the second four-hit game of his career and first since March 10, 2019 in the Joe Nuxhall Classic vs. Miami (OH).
• Griffin Merritt had a 3-for-5 day, scoring three runs, plating two RBI while hitting a double and a triple.
• Jake Hansen was 2-for-3, with 2 RBI, a double, two walks and he scored two runs.
• Jake Murray finished 2-for-4, with a pair of runs scored and RBI, a triple and a walk.
SCORING INNINGS
TOP OF THE SECOND
The Bearcats were on the board first again after Ryan Nicholson led off with a single and scored on Murray's triple. Merrit was next with a single to right center which brought Murray home. Hansen walked and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. A strike out notched the first WKU out of the inning, but a passed ball allowed Merrit to score and advanced Hansen to third. Another strike out led to the second out, but Eric Santiago walked, got caught in a run-down trying to steal second but stayed alive long enough for Hansen to score the fourth run of the inning.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Eric Riffe homered off Schoenle with one out and Jack Wilson doubled to left center. After a hit-by-pitch and strikeout, Davis Sims singled through the left side to score Wilson. Schoenle struck out the next batter to end the inning.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Cam Scheler led off with a double down the left-field line and scored after Bellini poked a one-out single and was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Wilson led off with a double and scored on a double by Ray Zuberer III.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Murray hit a one-out bunt single and legged out a score on a triple by Merritt. Hansen and Cole Harting walked to load the bases. Merrit scored on a wild pitch and Scheler walked. Santiago reached on a fielder's choice and Hansen scored. Belliini singled through the right side, Harting scored and UC had a 9-3 edge.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Hansen singled up the idle to score Ryan Nicholson who led the inning off with a single.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Merrit hit a one-out double to left field on the first pitch he saw, later scoring on a double by Hansen.
UP NEXT
UC is back on the road next weekend, playing a four-game set at UNC Wilmington from Thursday-Sunday. Games on Thursday-Saturday will feature a 4 p.m. ET first pitch while Sunday's closer will start at 1 p.m. ET. The Seahawk Digital Network will stream Thursday and Friday's games and FloBaseball will televise the weekend set. Live stats will also be 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.