TicketsCLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team fell to top seed and No. 15-ranked ECU, 9-6, in game five of the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship on Wednesday inside BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
After a 4-hour, 20-minute weather delay, the Pirates scored four unanswered runs to complete the come-from-behind victory.
The Bearcats finish the 2023 season with an overall record of 24-33 and conference mark of 10-14.
All six of the Bearcat runs came off the long ball. Junior Cole Harting belted his second career grand slam in the top of the fourth. He finished the season with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. Cincinnati had five grand slams from five different players this year.
Redshirt sophomore Kerrington Cross hit his ninth home run of the season on a two-run shot to left field in the third. Redshirt junior Kameron Guidry added two hits and one run scored in the loss.
Senior Mitch White gave a gutsy performance out of the bullpen, entering the game before the weather delay and returning four hours later to strike out a career-high six batters in 3.2 innings.
Sophomore Garrett Harker gave up four runs on two hits in his ninth start of the season while junior Max Bergmann came out of the bullpen and took the loss.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati fell behind in the bottom of the first inning when ECU plated two early runs on a sacrifice fly and wild pitch.
Cross evened the ballgame with a two-run homer in the top of the third. After Josh Hegemann beat out a throw at first to keep the inning alive, Cross belted a two-out, two-run shot to left field.
The Pirates quickly reclaimed the lead with three runs on four hits in the home half of the third.
Alec Jones and Tommy O'Connor recorded back-to-back singles to start the fourth inning. Guidry then drilled an infield single to load the bases for Harting who smacked a 1-2 curve ball over the right center wall for his second career grand slam. The game then entered a weather delay with UC leading 6-5 in the middle of the fourth inning.
After a 4-hour, 20-minute stoppage, White returned to the mound and retired eight straight batters, which included striking out the side in the fifth.
The game entered another 15-minute delay due to a power outage in the top of the sixth. ECU tied the game on a two-out hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the frame. Bergmann inherited the bases loaded and got out of the jam thanks to a diving save at second by Sean Springer.
The Pirates extended their lead to 9-6 as the Bearcats came up to the plate in the top of the ninth. Guidry reached on an error and Harting and Hegemann drew walks to load the bases with two outs. The rally came up short as ECU escaped with the victory.
After a 4-hour, 20-minute weather delay, the Pirates scored four unanswered runs to complete the come-from-behind victory.
The Bearcats finish the 2023 season with an overall record of 24-33 and conference mark of 10-14.
All six of the Bearcat runs came off the long ball. Junior Cole Harting belted his second career grand slam in the top of the fourth. He finished the season with 10 home runs and 38 RBI. Cincinnati had five grand slams from five different players this year.
Redshirt sophomore Kerrington Cross hit his ninth home run of the season on a two-run shot to left field in the third. Redshirt junior Kameron Guidry added two hits and one run scored in the loss.
Senior Mitch White gave a gutsy performance out of the bullpen, entering the game before the weather delay and returning four hours later to strike out a career-high six batters in 3.2 innings.
Sophomore Garrett Harker gave up four runs on two hits in his ninth start of the season while junior Max Bergmann came out of the bullpen and took the loss.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Cincinnati fell behind in the bottom of the first inning when ECU plated two early runs on a sacrifice fly and wild pitch.
Cross evened the ballgame with a two-run homer in the top of the third. After Josh Hegemann beat out a throw at first to keep the inning alive, Cross belted a two-out, two-run shot to left field.
The Pirates quickly reclaimed the lead with three runs on four hits in the home half of the third.
Alec Jones and Tommy O'Connor recorded back-to-back singles to start the fourth inning. Guidry then drilled an infield single to load the bases for Harting who smacked a 1-2 curve ball over the right center wall for his second career grand slam. The game then entered a weather delay with UC leading 6-5 in the middle of the fourth inning.
After a 4-hour, 20-minute stoppage, White returned to the mound and retired eight straight batters, which included striking out the side in the fifth.
The game entered another 15-minute delay due to a power outage in the top of the sixth. ECU tied the game on a two-out hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the frame. Bergmann inherited the bases loaded and got out of the jam thanks to a diving save at second by Sean Springer.
The Pirates extended their lead to 9-6 as the Bearcats came up to the plate in the top of the ninth. Guidry reached on an error and Harting and Hegemann drew walks to load the bases with two outs. The rally came up short as ECU escaped with the victory.