TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team put the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth, but was unable to bring it home in a 5-4 loss against West Virginia at UC Baseball Stadium
Trailing by a run, Hunter Jessee led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and pinch-runner Dalton Pearson stole second, then advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Though the tying run was 90 feet away, the Bearcats (25-21, 11-11 Big 12) couldn't quite complete the comeback.
West Virginia (28-16, 15-7 Big 12) benefited from four home runs, three solo shots and a two-run homer, but managed just three hits otherwise.
Jessee led Cincinnati at the plate on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. His two-run homer in the fifth inning gave UC its only lead of the game.
Josh Kross went 2-for-3 and also reached on a walk and hit by pitch. He has now been plunked 20 times this year, which is one away from tying former Bearcat Josh Harrison's single-season record of 21 HBP. Lauden Brooks also had a two-hit day and reached on a hit by pitch.
In fact, Cincinnati hitters were plunked five times on Friday, the most in a game this season.
Seth Logue made the start and stuck out three through six innings of work. Griffin Hugus and Christian Mitchelle saw time out of the bullpen, with Mitchelle striking out two in 2.1 scoreless frames.
Game two is set for 3 PM on Saturday.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
West Virginia struck first with a one-out solo homer in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead, then added another run on a solo home run in the top of the third.
UC got one of those runs back in the bottom of the third on an RBI double from Josh Kross. Kerrington Cross reached on a base hit and advanced to second on an error, then scored easily from second on Kross' two-bagger.
The Bearcats took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run from Hunter Jessee. Kross got on base after getting hit by a pitch, then Jessee lifted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right field to make it 3-2.
Cincinnati's lead did not last long, however, as West Virginia hit two home runs in the top of the sixth, one of which was a two-run shot, to retake the lead and make it 5-3.
Lauden Brooks ripped a two-out single into center field in the bottom of the seventh to make it a one-run game, 5-4. In the bottom of the ninth, Jessee walked to open the inning and Dalton Pearson, who came off the bench as a pinch runner, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. He would go no further, however, as the inning ended with the tying run stranded at third.
// TICKET INFORMATION
To purchase Cincinnati baseball tickets, visit GoBearcats.com/Tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
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NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.
Trailing by a run, Hunter Jessee led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk and pinch-runner Dalton Pearson stole second, then advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Though the tying run was 90 feet away, the Bearcats (25-21, 11-11 Big 12) couldn't quite complete the comeback.
West Virginia (28-16, 15-7 Big 12) benefited from four home runs, three solo shots and a two-run homer, but managed just three hits otherwise.
Jessee led Cincinnati at the plate on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. His two-run homer in the fifth inning gave UC its only lead of the game.
Josh Kross went 2-for-3 and also reached on a walk and hit by pitch. He has now been plunked 20 times this year, which is one away from tying former Bearcat Josh Harrison's single-season record of 21 HBP. Lauden Brooks also had a two-hit day and reached on a hit by pitch.
In fact, Cincinnati hitters were plunked five times on Friday, the most in a game this season.
Seth Logue made the start and stuck out three through six innings of work. Griffin Hugus and Christian Mitchelle saw time out of the bullpen, with Mitchelle striking out two in 2.1 scoreless frames.
Game two is set for 3 PM on Saturday.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
West Virginia struck first with a one-out solo homer in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead, then added another run on a solo home run in the top of the third.
UC got one of those runs back in the bottom of the third on an RBI double from Josh Kross. Kerrington Cross reached on a base hit and advanced to second on an error, then scored easily from second on Kross' two-bagger.
The Bearcats took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run from Hunter Jessee. Kross got on base after getting hit by a pitch, then Jessee lifted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right field to make it 3-2.
Cincinnati's lead did not last long, however, as West Virginia hit two home runs in the top of the sixth, one of which was a two-run shot, to retake the lead and make it 5-3.
Lauden Brooks ripped a two-out single into center field in the bottom of the seventh to make it a one-run game, 5-4. In the bottom of the ninth, Jessee walked to open the inning and Dalton Pearson, who came off the bench as a pinch runner, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. He would go no further, however, as the inning ended with the tying run stranded at third.
// TICKET INFORMATION
To purchase Cincinnati baseball tickets, visit GoBearcats.com/Tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
// 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.