TicketsGREENVILLE, N.C. -- Redshirt senior infielder Wyatt Stapp and redshirt junior outfielder Griffin Merritt each racked up three hits, but the Cincinnati Bearcats fell to the East Carolina Pirates, 9-7, on Friday in Greenville, N.C.
Senior pitcher Beau Keathley (3-2) started and took the loss on the mound for Cincinnati (17-22, 7-6). Redshirt junior pitcher Jackson Murphy pitched well out of the bullpen, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit.
In addition to his three hits, Merritt had a home run and an RBI to lead the Bearcats. Stapp added a double and an RBI to his three-hit performance as well. Redshirt freshman infielder Kerrington Cross also helped out for Cincinnati, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, a walk and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats got the scoring started early, putting four runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Cincinnati's offense clicked right away and were sparked by a two-run home run off the bat of Cross and a two-run double from redshirt sophomore infielder Ryan Nicholson.
The Pirates then rallied to score five runs and take a 5-4 lead before the Bearcats got back on the board in the fifth. Cincinnati picked up two runs, including one on a solo dinger off the bat of redshirt junior outfielder Paul Komistek, which brought the score to 6-5 in favor of the Bearcats.
Cincinnati's lead had evaporated once the ninth inning arrived and turned into a 9-6 East Carolina advantage when the Bearcats cut that deficit to 9-7. The Bearcats notched a run on Merritt's one-out solo home run off junior Carter Spivey. The ballgame ended with that ninth inning rally falling short.
GAME NOTES
- In his 100th career game played, Komistek extended his hit-streak to eight games, dating back to April 14. He hit his eighth home run of the season and 20th of his career in the fifth inning, the third most on the team, and ended the night 2-for-5. He's tied for the team-lead with 15 multi-hit games.
- Merritt hit his AAC-leading 16th homer in the ninth inning. He went 3-for-5 tonight to improve his average to .348, the third highest on the team. He also scored the 100th run of his career.
- Nicholson gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead with his ninth double of the season. His 32 RBIs rank second on the team.
- Sophomore outfielder Cole Harting ended the night 2-for-5, giving him his 12th multi-hit game of the season.
- Cross drilled his fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot, to left field to give UC an early 4-0 lead in the first inning. The home run gives the young Bearcat his 40th hit of the season, the fifth on the team to do so this season.
- Stapp went 3-for-4 tonight with a double and an RBI, making it his first 3+ hit game of the year.
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