TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team was edged by Wichita State, 2-1, in its conference opener on Friday inside UC Baseball Stadium.
The Bearcats were limited to one run on two hits, and left four runners on base in the loss.
Redshirt junior starter Chase Hopewell (1-2) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four batters with two walks in six quality innings. Redshirt junior Alex Shea came out of the bullpen and went two shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out a pair. Senior reliever Mitch White recorded his 100th career strikeout in the ninth inning.
Junior Cole Harting hit his fifth homer of the season in the fifth inning to score the Bearcats' lone run of the game.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati fell behind when Wichita State plated one run on two hits in the top of the first inning. WSU's Clark Candiotti retired the first 12 batters he faced. The Shockers scored another run in the top of the fifth to make it 2-1.
Harting broke through for the Bearcats in the home half of the frame. He smashed the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to lead off the inning. The solo homer was his fifth of the year.
In the top of the sixth, Lauden Brooks delivered a two-out double down the left field line. Ryan Nicholson followed with a walk, but the Bearcats stranded the pair.
Shea went two shutout innings while White pitched a scoreless ninth to keep the score within a run. Cincinnati was unable to capitalize down the stretch, falling 2-1.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and Wichita State will play the middle game of the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
The Bearcats were limited to one run on two hits, and left four runners on base in the loss.
Redshirt junior starter Chase Hopewell (1-2) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four batters with two walks in six quality innings. Redshirt junior Alex Shea came out of the bullpen and went two shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out a pair. Senior reliever Mitch White recorded his 100th career strikeout in the ninth inning.
Junior Cole Harting hit his fifth homer of the season in the fifth inning to score the Bearcats' lone run of the game.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati fell behind when Wichita State plated one run on two hits in the top of the first inning. WSU's Clark Candiotti retired the first 12 batters he faced. The Shockers scored another run in the top of the fifth to make it 2-1.
Harting broke through for the Bearcats in the home half of the frame. He smashed the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to lead off the inning. The solo homer was his fifth of the year.
In the top of the sixth, Lauden Brooks delivered a two-out double down the left field line. Ryan Nicholson followed with a walk, but the Bearcats stranded the pair.
Shea went two shutout innings while White pitched a scoreless ninth to keep the score within a run. Cincinnati was unable to capitalize down the stretch, falling 2-1.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and Wichita State will play the middle game of the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday.