TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team run-ruled UCF, 13-3, in seven innings on Friday afternoon inside UC Baseball Stadium.
Cincinnati (22-27, 9-10 AAC) pounded out 13 hits and scored 13 runs to take the series opener. The Bearcats finished with double figures in the hit column for the 14th time this season.
Redshirt junior Alec Jones, making his 100th career start, hit his first career grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning. He finished the day 1-for-2 with four RBI, two runs scored and a walk.
Freshman Griffin Hugus went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two extra-base hits and two runs scored. He was a home run shy of the cycle. Kerrington Cross and Sean Springer each drove in two runs while Cross belted his fifth homer of the season. Ryan Nicholson tied his career-high two doubles to bring his season total to 13.
The Bearcats' offense generated nine extra-base hits, including a season-high five doubles. Every spot in the Bearcats' lineup recorded a hit in the victory.
Sophomore starter Garrett Harker (1-5) earned the win in five innings of work. He allowed three runs on four hits and struck out five batters with four walks. Freshman Chase Horst provided two shutout innings in relief with four strikeouts.
Defensively, the Bearcats turned a season-high three double plays.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati got on the board in the bottom of the second. Tommy O'Connor recorded a lead-off triple to left center – the first of his career. After Jones was hit-by-pitch, Cole Harting doubled the first pitch his saw down the left field line to score O'Connor.
UCF tied the ballgame on an RBI double to left field in the next frame.
The Bearcats exploded for a six-spot in the bottom of the third, including four runs that came with two outs. Josh Hegemann led off the inning with a base hit to center field. Cross then stepped into the batter's box and belted a two-run shot over the right field wall. His fifth homer of the year was a 0-2 fastball that went 386 feet at 100 mph off the bat.
Nicholson continued the hot hitting with a double to left center. Jones reached on an error by third base and Harting was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Hugus then delivered a two-out, two-run double to right center while Springer came through with a two-run single up the middle to make it 7-1. Harker struck out the side in the next frame for the shutdown inning.
The Knights plated two runs on a pair of two-out, RBI doubles in the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hugus started things off with his first career triple to left field. After Springer was hit-by-pitch, Hegemann laid down a successful bunt to drive in a run. O'Connor drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Jones who cleared them with a grand slam to left center. He drilled the first pitch he saw 406 feet over the left field wall at 104 mph off the bat.
Kyle Schupmann doubled down the left field line to begin the seventh inning. Hugus then laced an RBI single up the middle to give UC the 13-3 run-rule victory.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and UCF will play the middle game of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday at UC Baseball Stadium. Sunday's game will serve as Senior Day as UC will recognize 12 members of its senior class and two managers.
Cincinnati (22-27, 9-10 AAC) pounded out 13 hits and scored 13 runs to take the series opener. The Bearcats finished with double figures in the hit column for the 14th time this season.
Redshirt junior Alec Jones, making his 100th career start, hit his first career grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning. He finished the day 1-for-2 with four RBI, two runs scored and a walk.
Freshman Griffin Hugus went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two extra-base hits and two runs scored. He was a home run shy of the cycle. Kerrington Cross and Sean Springer each drove in two runs while Cross belted his fifth homer of the season. Ryan Nicholson tied his career-high two doubles to bring his season total to 13.
The Bearcats' offense generated nine extra-base hits, including a season-high five doubles. Every spot in the Bearcats' lineup recorded a hit in the victory.
Sophomore starter Garrett Harker (1-5) earned the win in five innings of work. He allowed three runs on four hits and struck out five batters with four walks. Freshman Chase Horst provided two shutout innings in relief with four strikeouts.
Defensively, the Bearcats turned a season-high three double plays.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati got on the board in the bottom of the second. Tommy O'Connor recorded a lead-off triple to left center – the first of his career. After Jones was hit-by-pitch, Cole Harting doubled the first pitch his saw down the left field line to score O'Connor.
UCF tied the ballgame on an RBI double to left field in the next frame.
The Bearcats exploded for a six-spot in the bottom of the third, including four runs that came with two outs. Josh Hegemann led off the inning with a base hit to center field. Cross then stepped into the batter's box and belted a two-run shot over the right field wall. His fifth homer of the year was a 0-2 fastball that went 386 feet at 100 mph off the bat.
Nicholson continued the hot hitting with a double to left center. Jones reached on an error by third base and Harting was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Hugus then delivered a two-out, two-run double to right center while Springer came through with a two-run single up the middle to make it 7-1. Harker struck out the side in the next frame for the shutdown inning.
The Knights plated two runs on a pair of two-out, RBI doubles in the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hugus started things off with his first career triple to left field. After Springer was hit-by-pitch, Hegemann laid down a successful bunt to drive in a run. O'Connor drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Jones who cleared them with a grand slam to left center. He drilled the first pitch he saw 406 feet over the left field wall at 104 mph off the bat.
Kyle Schupmann doubled down the left field line to begin the seventh inning. Hugus then laced an RBI single up the middle to give UC the 13-3 run-rule victory.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and UCF will play the middle game of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday at UC Baseball Stadium. Sunday's game will serve as Senior Day as UC will recognize 12 members of its senior class and two managers.