TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team ended its weekend series vs. Houston with an 8-5 loss at UC Baseball Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
UC (23-18, 9-9 Big 12) won the first two games of the series in come-from-behind fashion, but couldn't keep the Cougars' bats at bay in the finale. Christian Mitchelle's three-run home run in the first inning gave Cincinnati an early lead, but Houston came back and scored six runs over the final four innings to walk away with the win and spoil the Bearcats' chances of a series sweep.
Mitchelle went 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs scored, capping a weekend where he hit .583 (7-for-12) at the plate against Houston. Luke Sefcik and Dalton Pearson had the other hits for Cincinnati.
Seven different pitchers saw time on the mound, with Tommy Boba making the start. He struck out four in 5.0 innings of work while walking just one.
The Bearcats visit UCF for a three-game series next weekend.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
In a change of pace from the first two games of the series, Cincinnati took an early lead in Sunday's contest. Kerrington Cross and Josh Kross both drew first-inning walks, and Christian Mitchelle drove them home with a two-out home run to give UC a 3-0 lead.
Tommy Boba cruised until the top of the fourth when he gave up a two-run, two-out home run that let the Cougars pull within a run, 3-2.
Following the first-inning home run, UC's offense managed just one hit over the next four innings. That allowed Houston an opportunity to get back in the game, which it took advantage of with two runs in the top of the sixth. The two-run single made it 4-3 and gave the Cougars their first lead of the game.
The lead didn't last long, however, as Luke Sefcik drove in a pair on a base hit up the middle in the bottom of the sixth. Mitchelle and Lauden Brooks reached and Max Palmieri's sacrifice bunt put them both in scoring position. Sefcik then lined one up the middle to score both runners and make it 5-4.
Houston then tied it at 5-5 in the seventh. With the bases loaded, a blooper into center field allowed the runner from third to score. The Cougars retook the lead in the eighth on a leadoff home run from Carson French, who had tallied the two-run single in the sixth, to go up 6-5. Houston put two more runs on the board in the top of the ninth to bring about the final score of 8-5.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.
UC (23-18, 9-9 Big 12) won the first two games of the series in come-from-behind fashion, but couldn't keep the Cougars' bats at bay in the finale. Christian Mitchelle's three-run home run in the first inning gave Cincinnati an early lead, but Houston came back and scored six runs over the final four innings to walk away with the win and spoil the Bearcats' chances of a series sweep.
Mitchelle went 2-for-3 with a homer and two runs scored, capping a weekend where he hit .583 (7-for-12) at the plate against Houston. Luke Sefcik and Dalton Pearson had the other hits for Cincinnati.
Seven different pitchers saw time on the mound, with Tommy Boba making the start. He struck out four in 5.0 innings of work while walking just one.
The Bearcats visit UCF for a three-game series next weekend.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
In a change of pace from the first two games of the series, Cincinnati took an early lead in Sunday's contest. Kerrington Cross and Josh Kross both drew first-inning walks, and Christian Mitchelle drove them home with a two-out home run to give UC a 3-0 lead.
Tommy Boba cruised until the top of the fourth when he gave up a two-run, two-out home run that let the Cougars pull within a run, 3-2.
Following the first-inning home run, UC's offense managed just one hit over the next four innings. That allowed Houston an opportunity to get back in the game, which it took advantage of with two runs in the top of the sixth. The two-run single made it 4-3 and gave the Cougars their first lead of the game.
The lead didn't last long, however, as Luke Sefcik drove in a pair on a base hit up the middle in the bottom of the sixth. Mitchelle and Lauden Brooks reached and Max Palmieri's sacrifice bunt put them both in scoring position. Sefcik then lined one up the middle to score both runners and make it 5-4.
Houston then tied it at 5-5 in the seventh. With the bases loaded, a blooper into center field allowed the runner from third to score. The Cougars retook the lead in the eighth on a leadoff home run from Carson French, who had tallied the two-run single in the sixth, to go up 6-5. Houston put two more runs on the board in the top of the ninth to bring about the final score of 8-5.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.