TicketsORLANDO, Fla. -- The University of Cincinnati baseball team (23-29, 12-12) won its final series of the season Friday, beating UCF, 6-5. The win locked up the fourth seed in the AAC Tournament for the Bearcats.
Graduate pitcher Tristan Weaver came up big for UC today, relieving the starting pitcher, sophomore Conner Linn, in the first inning. Weaver ended up throwing seven innings of two-run ball while striking out two. Redshirt junior pitcher Jackson Murphy (3-2) was also big out of the bullpen, pitching the final two innings, not giving up any runs and earning his third win of the year.
Although UC has 10 hits, it only had one extra-base hit. Redshirt junior outfielder Paul Komistek went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk. Redshirt junior outfielder Griffin Merritt also went 2-for-4, and added two runs and a double. Redshirt senior infielder Jake Hansen also tacked on a couple hits, going 2-for-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Once again, UCF jumped ahead early, going up 3-0 in the first. The Bearcats immediately responded by putting up three of their own. Hansen and Komistek each singled to knock in the three runs.
The rest of the game was back-and-forth, with the Bearcats scoring two on a UCF error and the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by redshirt sophomore JP Sponseller. Murphy shut the door on UCF and UC held on to win the game and the series.
GAME NOTES
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NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.
Graduate pitcher Tristan Weaver came up big for UC today, relieving the starting pitcher, sophomore Conner Linn, in the first inning. Weaver ended up throwing seven innings of two-run ball while striking out two. Redshirt junior pitcher Jackson Murphy (3-2) was also big out of the bullpen, pitching the final two innings, not giving up any runs and earning his third win of the year.
Although UC has 10 hits, it only had one extra-base hit. Redshirt junior outfielder Paul Komistek went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk. Redshirt junior outfielder Griffin Merritt also went 2-for-4, and added two runs and a double. Redshirt senior infielder Jake Hansen also tacked on a couple hits, going 2-for-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Once again, UCF jumped ahead early, going up 3-0 in the first. The Bearcats immediately responded by putting up three of their own. Hansen and Komistek each singled to knock in the three runs.
The rest of the game was back-and-forth, with the Bearcats scoring two on a UCF error and the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by redshirt sophomore JP Sponseller. Murphy shut the door on UCF and UC held on to win the game and the series.
GAME NOTES
- Merritt went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a walk. He ends the regular season with the best slugging percentage on the team (.676).
- Harting had another hit today, going 1-for-5. He ended the series with a .467 (7-15) batting average.
- Komistek had a 2-for-4 day, plus a walk. He ends the regular season with the highest batting average on the team (.332).
- After multiple hits today, Merritt and Komistek each ended the year with 19 multi-hit games, which led the team.
- Weaver stepped up today, throwing seven innings, giving up two runs and striking out two after coming into the game in just the first inning. It matches his longest outing of the season.
- Murphy shut the door today, earning his third win of the season after throwing two shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
- With this win over UCF, Cincinnati clinches the No. 4 seed in the AAC conference tournament. The Bearcats' first game will be Tuesday, May 24, at 9:00 a.m. ET.
- UC has won seven of the past 11 games against UCF.
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.