TicketsCINCINNATI -- Sophomore outfielder Cole Harting collected five RBIs to help propel the Cincinnati Bearcats over the Houston Cougars, 13-3, in seven innings on Saturday at UC Baseball Stadium.
Senior pitcher Beau Keathley (3-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for Cincinnati (12-17, 2-3). The right-hander went all seven innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on six hits, allowing three walks and striking out six.
Harting went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and a walk in addition to his five RBIs for the Bearcats. Redshirt sophomore catcher Joe Powell put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a walk-off triple, two walks and two RBIs. Redshirt junior outfielder Griffin Merritt also chipped in for Cincinnati, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a three-run home run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Cincinnati got an RBI single from redshirt sophomore infielder Ryan Nicholson, scoring Harting from second base.
The Bearcats lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the third trailing 2-1. The Cincinnati offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Merritt, which brought the Bearcats lead to 6-2.
Cincinnati kept Houston without a run before building their lead to 10-2 the following inning. The Bearcats got a grand slam from Harting off junior Logan Clayton to cash in four runs in the frame.
The Cougars fought back, closing the gap to 10-3 until Cincinnati added some insurance in the seventh. The three-run seventh for the Bearcats was punctuated by a two-run triple from Powell, bringing the score to 13-3 in favor of Cincinnati. The game ended there due to the 10-run rule.
GAME NOTES
» Keathley threw his first complete game as a Bearcat and the second of his career today, going seven innings, giving up one earned run and striking out six.
» Harting led the Bearcats at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBIs. It was the first grand slam of his career and his fifth homer of the season. His 25 RBIs are the second-most on the team.
» Merritt launched his 10th homer of the year today, driving in three runs in the third inning. The long ball once again ties him for the conference-lead. His 10 homers already match the career high 10 he hit last season.
» Powell walked the game off with a two-run triple in the seventh inning, his third triple of the season. His .775 slugging percentage leads the team.
» Redshirt freshman infielder Kerrington Cross has a hit in seven-straight games and a triple in two-straight. His four triples on the season lead the conference.
» With his two RBIs today, Nicholson now has 24 on the season, the third-most on the team. He has seven RBIs in the last three games.
» The Bearcats' 13 runs today are the most they've scored since March 20 against Saint Joseph's when they scored 18.
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