TicketsCINCINNATI – A three-run home run by University of Cincinnati designated hitter Griffin Merritt in the bottom of the seventh capped a five-run inning in an 11-8 come-from-behind win for the Bearcats in the back end of a Thursday doubleheader at UC Baseball Stadium.
Cincinnati (27-24, 16-14 American Athletic Conference) and Tulane (28-20, 17-8 AAC) combined for 35 runs on 50 hits in the two games as the weather in the Queen City approached 90 degrees and heated up the offenses.
Merritt became the first UC player to get to double-digit homers this year with his go-ahead shot to left field off Tulane reliever Trent Johnson, which scored Tanner Holen and Paul Komistek. It was Merritt's team-best 10th home run of the season.
UC trailed 8-4 before the rally, which started from a Joey Bellini leadoff single and a double by Eric Santiago to score Bellini. Komistek drew a 1-out walk and Holen doubled off the wall in right to plate Santiago and the Bearcats led 9-8 at the end of the frame.
The Bearcats added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with RBI singles from Santiago and Komistek. Santiago and Cole Harting both had three hits, and two runs scored. Santiago added two RBIs while Harting belted a pair of doubles and a triple.
Cincinnati reliever Beau Keathley (2-3) picked up the win with 2.2 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out three. Connor Linn threw 2.2 strong innings, surrendering three runs on five hits after coming in for starter Zach Segal who gave up five runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work. Johnson (2-4) took the loss for Tulane.
The Green Wave led 2-1 before picking up a four-run tally in the fourth courtesy of two RBI doubles and an RBI single. They added a pair of runs in the seventh to go ahead 8-4 before UC's late rally.
UP NEXT
The teams return to the field Friday, starting things off at 1 p.m. ET at UC Baseball Stadium. UC LHP Evan Shawver will face Tulane RHP Donovan Benoit.
UC men's basketball coach Wes Miller will throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to Friday's game.
Single game tickets are available and fans should visit the baseball ticket page for more information or to make their purchase now! Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, 1,000 fans will be allowed in UC Baseball Stadium for game days.
FRIDAY, MAY 21
1 p.m. • ESPN+
LHP Evan Shawver vs. RHP Donovan Benoit
WATCH • LIVE STATS
Saturday's game will feature the Baseball Bark in the Park event. All pets of Bearcats ticket holders receive free admission if their human has purchased a ticket for the game. View more information online.
All four games air on ESPN+ with Matt Noonan (pxp) and Andy Nagel (ana) calling the action. Live stats are available at BearcatStats.com.
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 (27-24, 16-14 American Athletic Conference) and Tulane (28-20, 17-8 AAC) combined for 35 runs on 50 hits in the two games as the weather in the Queen City approached 90 degrees and heated up the offenses.
Merritt became the first UC player to get to double-digit homers this year with his go-ahead shot to left field off Tulane reliever Trent Johnson, which scored Tanner Holen and Paul Komistek. It was Merritt's team-best 10th home run of the season.
UC trailed 8-4 before the rally, which started from a Joey Bellini leadoff single and a double by Eric Santiago to score Bellini. Komistek drew a 1-out walk and Holen doubled off the wall in right to plate Santiago and the Bearcats led 9-8 at the end of the frame.
The Bearcats added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth with RBI singles from Santiago and Komistek. Santiago and Cole Harting both had three hits, and two runs scored. Santiago added two RBIs while Harting belted a pair of doubles and a triple.
Cincinnati reliever Beau Keathley (2-3) picked up the win with 2.2 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out three. Connor Linn threw 2.2 strong innings, surrendering three runs on five hits after coming in for starter Zach Segal who gave up five runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of work. Johnson (2-4) took the loss for Tulane.
The Green Wave led 2-1 before picking up a four-run tally in the fourth courtesy of two RBI doubles and an RBI single. They added a pair of runs in the seventh to go ahead 8-4 before UC's late rally.
UP NEXT
The teams return to the field Friday, starting things off at 1 p.m. ET at UC Baseball Stadium. UC LHP Evan Shawver will face Tulane RHP Donovan Benoit.
UC men's basketball coach Wes Miller will throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to Friday's game.
Single game tickets are available and fans should visit the baseball ticket page for more information or to make their purchase now! Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, 1,000 fans will be allowed in UC Baseball Stadium for game days.
FRIDAY, MAY 21
1 p.m. • ESPN+
LHP Evan Shawver vs. RHP Donovan Benoit
WATCH • LIVE STATS
Saturday's game will feature the Baseball Bark in the Park event. All pets of Bearcats ticket holders receive free admission if their human has purchased a ticket for the game. View more information online.
All four games air on ESPN+ with Matt Noonan (pxp) and Andy Nagel (ana) calling the action. Live stats are available at BearcatStats.com.
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.