TicketsCINCINNATI --The Cincinnati Bearcats rallied to score one in the ninth inning and walked it off on redshirt sophomore catcher Cam Scheler's pinch-hit solo home run off of junior Ethan Hammerberg to pick up the 5-4 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes Wednesday in the home opener at UC Baseball Stadium. Cincinnati set a new UC Baseball Stadium attendence record with 2,451 fans at the ballpark.
Senior pitcher Beau Keathley (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Cincinnati (3-3). The right-hander went 6.1 shutout innings, giving up four hits, one walk and striking out eight.
Redshirt junior Paul Komistek led the way offensively for the Bearcats, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Redshirt junior Griffin Merritt put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Scheler hit the big one though, going 1-for-1 for Cincinnati with a walk-off home run and an RBI.
"It's early in the season, we're still trying to find out who our guys are and what roles they'll be in," said head coach Scott Googins. "It was good to get out here and play. Thanks to Ohio State coming down here on short notice. The weather was good, and it will be great again this weekend for Northwestern."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 4-0, the Bearcats first put runs on the board in the third inning. Cincinnati scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Merritt.
The Bearcats kept the deficit at 4-3 before tying the score in the eighth. Cincinnati picked up a run on Komistek's leadoff home run off of Hammerberg, which brought the score level at 4-4.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Cincinnati walked it off on Scheler's one-out solo home run off of Hammerberg.
GAME NOTES
» Keathley struck out eight Buckeyes hitters in his 6.1 innings of work, picking up his first win of the season.
» Merritt's four homers lead the AAC.
» Scheler's walk-off home run was UC's first since Joey Wiemer hit one on April 13, 2019, against UCF.
» Cincinnati has won the last four matchups against Ohio State. The Buckeyes haven't won since 2016.
» Cincinnati pitchers limited Ohio State to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
» Komistek hit his third home run of the season and extended his hitting streak to six games. His average is back to .500 on the year (13-26).
» Redshirt sophomore first baseman Ryan Nicholson and redshirt freshman infielder Kerrington Cross have both hit safely in all six games this year.
» Cincinnati fans set a new UC Baseball Stadium
TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for the 2022 season are now on sale! The Bearcats open up their home slate on Friday, March 4th as they host Northwestern at UC Baseball Stadium. To purchase season tickets, visit cpaw.me/SeasonTickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
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