TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati baseball team scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to fuel a 10-6 come-from-behind win to earn a series split with UCF in American Athletic Conference action on Sunday at UC Baseball Stadium.
Trailing 4-0 after five-and-a-half innings, Griffin Merritt's leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the frame started the comeback. Cole Harting plated Joe Powell to make the margin 4-2 after five.
UCF (14-18, 4-4 AAC) got one back in the sixth but Paul Komistek's two-run homer to right scored Eric Santiago and chased Knights starter Jack Sinclair from the game. Merritt followed with a single, Deondre Bremner doubled to right field and Powell walked to load the bases. Jake Murray was next up and drew a 3-2 walk to score Merritt and UCF went to the bullpen again.
Harting's sacrifice to center score Bremner and after an intentional walk to Jace Mercer, Joey Bellini singled to bring home Powell and Murray and Cincinnati (13-16, 2-6 AAC) had an 8-5 lead.
In the seventh, Harting doubled in Bremner and Komistek singled through the right side to score Bellini from second to get UC to double-digits on the scoreboard.
Dean McCarthy picked up the win in relief and evened his record at 2-2 on the season. He threw 3.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
NOTABLE
• Beau Keathley made his first start for the Bearcats, throwing 4.0 innings, giving up four runs on three hits with four strikeouts.
• Komistek went 3-for-4, batted in three runs, walked and hit a home run.
• Harting was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double.
• Bremner finished off one of his best outings of the season by going 2-for-3 two runs scored, a double and a walk.
SERIES NOTABLES
• Komistek hit .571 against the Knights, totaling eight hits, including two home runs and three doubles, six RBIs, four walks and scored four runs.
• Merritt also had two homers to go along with five hits and five RBIs.
• Mercer scored four runs, stole three bases, while belting a double and triple among his five hits.
• Bellini had seven hits and four RBIs.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats head out on the road next week for a four-game AAC series at Memphis' FedExPark. The teams will play a Friday doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. ET, kick things off at 3 p.m. Saturday and close out the series at 2 p.m. on 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.
Trailing 4-0 after five-and-a-half innings, Griffin Merritt's leadoff solo home run in the bottom of the frame started the comeback. Cole Harting plated Joe Powell to make the margin 4-2 after five.
UCF (14-18, 4-4 AAC) got one back in the sixth but Paul Komistek's two-run homer to right scored Eric Santiago and chased Knights starter Jack Sinclair from the game. Merritt followed with a single, Deondre Bremner doubled to right field and Powell walked to load the bases. Jake Murray was next up and drew a 3-2 walk to score Merritt and UCF went to the bullpen again.
Harting's sacrifice to center score Bremner and after an intentional walk to Jace Mercer, Joey Bellini singled to bring home Powell and Murray and Cincinnati (13-16, 2-6 AAC) had an 8-5 lead.
In the seventh, Harting doubled in Bremner and Komistek singled through the right side to score Bellini from second to get UC to double-digits on the scoreboard.
Dean McCarthy picked up the win in relief and evened his record at 2-2 on the season. He threw 3.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
NOTABLE
• Beau Keathley made his first start for the Bearcats, throwing 4.0 innings, giving up four runs on three hits with four strikeouts.
• Komistek went 3-for-4, batted in three runs, walked and hit a home run.
• Harting was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double.
• Bremner finished off one of his best outings of the season by going 2-for-3 two runs scored, a double and a walk.
SERIES NOTABLES
• Komistek hit .571 against the Knights, totaling eight hits, including two home runs and three doubles, six RBIs, four walks and scored four runs.
• Merritt also had two homers to go along with five hits and five RBIs.
• Mercer scored four runs, stole three bases, while belting a double and triple among his five hits.
• Bellini had seven hits and four RBIs.
UP NEXT
The Bearcats head out on the road next week for a four-game AAC series at Memphis' FedExPark. The teams will play a Friday doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. ET, kick things off at 3 p.m. Saturday and close out the series at 2 p.m. on 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.