TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team fell to No. 14-ranked East Carolina in the middle game of the series on Saturday afternoon at UC Baseball Stadium.
The Bearcats (20-26, 8-9 AAC) were within reach through five innings before the Pirates used a four-spot in the sixth to run away with an 11-3 victory.
Freshman Landyn Vidourek belted his fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot to right field in the ninth. Junior Alec Jones went 2-for-3 with a walk while junior Josh Hegemann recorded a hit and an RBI.
Second baseman Sean Springer totaled a career-best 11 assists on defense. It was the most assists by a Bearcat since Manny Rodriguez had nine on April 28, 2017 at UConn. It also ties the most assists in a NCAA game this season.
Starter Chase Hopewell (2-5) allowed four runs on six hits and struck out one batter with four walks in five quality innings.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
East Carolina struck first with an RBI triple in the top of the first. The Pirates had the bases loaded in the top of the third, but Hopewell limited the damage as ECU added only one run in the frame, 2-0.
The Bearcats had their lead-off batter reach base in three consecutive innings but were unable to capitalize with their bats.
ECU added to its lead with four runs on three hits in the top of the sixth. The Pirates hit a two-out, three-run homer in the frame.
Cross drew a lead-off walk in the home half of the sixth. Jones singled through the right side and Harting drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Hegemann drove in a run on a fielder's choice to first base, but the Bearcats stranded two runners to end the frame.
ECU went on to score five runs on six hits in the top of the ninth.
Hegemann delivered a one-out single to right center in the home half of the ninth. Vidourek then stepped into the batter's box and launched a two-run shot over the right field wall to account for the 11-3 finale score.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and ECU will play the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday at UC Baseball Stadium.
The Bearcats (20-26, 8-9 AAC) were within reach through five innings before the Pirates used a four-spot in the sixth to run away with an 11-3 victory.
Freshman Landyn Vidourek belted his fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot to right field in the ninth. Junior Alec Jones went 2-for-3 with a walk while junior Josh Hegemann recorded a hit and an RBI.
Second baseman Sean Springer totaled a career-best 11 assists on defense. It was the most assists by a Bearcat since Manny Rodriguez had nine on April 28, 2017 at UConn. It also ties the most assists in a NCAA game this season.
Starter Chase Hopewell (2-5) allowed four runs on six hits and struck out one batter with four walks in five quality innings.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
East Carolina struck first with an RBI triple in the top of the first. The Pirates had the bases loaded in the top of the third, but Hopewell limited the damage as ECU added only one run in the frame, 2-0.
The Bearcats had their lead-off batter reach base in three consecutive innings but were unable to capitalize with their bats.
ECU added to its lead with four runs on three hits in the top of the sixth. The Pirates hit a two-out, three-run homer in the frame.
Cross drew a lead-off walk in the home half of the sixth. Jones singled through the right side and Harting drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Hegemann drove in a run on a fielder's choice to first base, but the Bearcats stranded two runners to end the frame.
ECU went on to score five runs on six hits in the top of the ninth.
Hegemann delivered a one-out single to right center in the home half of the ninth. Vidourek then stepped into the batter's box and launched a two-run shot over the right field wall to account for the 11-3 finale score.
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati and ECU will play the series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday at UC Baseball Stadium.