TicketsMEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team took down Memphis, 6-2, in the series opener on Thursday night in Memphis, Tenn.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Griffin Hugus (1-0) earned his first career win in his first collegiate start for the Bearcats. He held Memphis to just one run on three hits and struck out a season-high six batters with two walks in five quality innings. Redshirt junior Alex Shea worked three shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out three batters.
Freshman Landyn Vidourek went 2-for-4 with two RBI while sophomore Kerrington Cross went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
The Bearcats scored six runs on six hits and left five runners on base, while the Tigers scored two runs on eight hits, committed four errors, and stranded 10 baserunners. All six of the Bearcats' runs came with two outs.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Memphis struck first on an RBI double, but Cincinnati responded with two runs on two hits and one error in the top of the second. With two outs, Kameron Guidry was hit-by-pitch, advanced to third on a single from Cross and raced home on a throwing error. Josh Hegemann drove in another run with an RBI single to center field to make it 2-1.
The Bearcats extended their advantage to five after a four-spot in the top of the fourth. Guidry reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to start the two-out rally. Cincinnati loaded the bases for Lauden Brooks, who drew an RBI walk. Vidourek then delivered a two-run single to left field. Brooks came home to score in a rundown play at second base.
Hugus retired six of his next eight batters faced with four strikeouts over his final two innings of work. Shea came out of the bullpen in the sixth and worked three shutout innings, striking out three batters. The Tigers plated one run in the bottom of the ninth for the 6-2 final score.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and Memphis will play the middle game of the series at 7 p.m. ET on Friday at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field in Memphis, Tenn.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Griffin Hugus (1-0) earned his first career win in his first collegiate start for the Bearcats. He held Memphis to just one run on three hits and struck out a season-high six batters with two walks in five quality innings. Redshirt junior Alex Shea worked three shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out three batters.
Freshman Landyn Vidourek went 2-for-4 with two RBI while sophomore Kerrington Cross went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
The Bearcats scored six runs on six hits and left five runners on base, while the Tigers scored two runs on eight hits, committed four errors, and stranded 10 baserunners. All six of the Bearcats' runs came with two outs.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Memphis struck first on an RBI double, but Cincinnati responded with two runs on two hits and one error in the top of the second. With two outs, Kameron Guidry was hit-by-pitch, advanced to third on a single from Cross and raced home on a throwing error. Josh Hegemann drove in another run with an RBI single to center field to make it 2-1.
The Bearcats extended their advantage to five after a four-spot in the top of the fourth. Guidry reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to start the two-out rally. Cincinnati loaded the bases for Lauden Brooks, who drew an RBI walk. Vidourek then delivered a two-run single to left field. Brooks came home to score in a rundown play at second base.
Hugus retired six of his next eight batters faced with four strikeouts over his final two innings of work. Shea came out of the bullpen in the sixth and worked three shutout innings, striking out three batters. The Tigers plated one run in the bottom of the ninth for the 6-2 final score.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and Memphis will play the middle game of the series at 7 p.m. ET on Friday at FedExPark Avron Fogelman Field in Memphis, Tenn.