TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team hit four home runs, including a pair of grand slams, to power past crosstown rival Xavier, 19-6, on Wednesday night at Hayden Field.
Redshirt junior Kameron Guidry and sophomore Kory Klingenbeck each belted a grand slam in the victory.
Redshirt junior Ryan Nicholson went 2-for-6 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI. Junior Cole Harting finished 2-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and three RBI while redshirt junior JP Sponseller was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Every batter in the Bearcats' starting lineup recorded a hit in the victory. Cincinnati finished with season highs in runs (19), hits (13) and walks (11).
Just as impressive on the mound was freshman starter Tommy Boba who earned his first collegiate win in five innings of work. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out four batters with two walks.
The Bearcats earned their 100th all-time win against Xavier, improving the series record to 100-62-1.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats sent 12 batters to plate and scored six runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. Kerrington Cross and Landyn Vidourek drew back-to-back walks to start off the inning. Nicholson drove in the first run of the game with a single to left center. Harting reached on an error to load the bases for Sponseller, who delivered an RBI single down the left field line. Guidry then stepped into the batter's box and launched his first career grand slam to left field, putting UC in front 6-0.
The Musketeers responded in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer to left center.
In the top of the second, Harting and Sponseller drew back-to-back walks and Guidry reached on an error to load the bases. Harting raced home on a wild pitch, followed by an RBI single to left center by Lauden Brooks. With no outs, Klingenbeck cleared the bases with his first career grand slam, ripped to right center. Nicholson then belted a two-out solo shot to center field for his fifth home run of the season.
Xavier got one run back on an RBI single in the home half of the second, 13-3.
The Bearcats continued to pour on in the top of the fourth. Klingenbeck drew a lead-off walk, followed by a single from Cross. Harting then smashed a two-out, three-run homer to left field to make it 16-3.
The Musketeers mustered one run in the sixth and were held scoreless in the seventh thanks to a pair of strikeouts by sophomore pitcher Tommy O'Connor.
Cincinnati scored three runs on four hits in the top of the eighth. Kyle Schupmann led off with a single to right center and advanced to second on a fielding error. Cam Scheler drew a walk and Cross notched a single to right field to load the bases. Vidourek and Nicholson then drove in back-to-back runs. After Harting singled through the left side, Sponseller brought in a run with a base hit to right field to extend the advantage to 19-4.
Xavier scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the eventual 19-6 final score.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will take on Butler for a three-game series this weekend at UC Baseball Stadium.
To purchase single-game tickets, visit GoBearcats.com/Tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
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