TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team bounced back in a big way on Saturday with a 10-4 win vs. West Virginia to even the weekend series.
After succumbing to four West Virginia home runs in the opener on Friday, UC (26-21, 12-11 Big 12) responded with four long balls of its own on Saturday to fuel the big win.
Kerrington Cross, Josh Kross, Alec Jones, and Max Palmieri all hit home runs in game two vs. West Virginia (28-17, 15-8 Big 12). The four homers are a season-high in Big 12 play for the Bearcats.
On the mound Tommy Boba was terrific, tying his career-high with nine strikeouts in 6.1 innings while not surrendering a walk. He faced just one above the minimum through four innings and kept West Virginia off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. The 6.1 innings Boba threw constitute the second-longest outing of the season for the sophomore right-hander.
Kross was also hit by a pitch twice on Saturday, bringing his season total to 22. He now owns the program's single-season HBP record, surpassing Josh Harrison's total of 21 from the 2006 season. Kross entered the weekend 13th in the nation in HBP and second in the Big 12.
Five Bearcat hitters had multi-hit efforts, with Josh Hegemann's 3-for-3 performance leading the way. Alec Jones reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with an HBP, and the top three hitters in the order (Cross, Lauden Brooks, and Kross) all had two-hit days.
The rubber match is set for 1 PM on Sunday.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
After a quick first two innings, Cincinnati struck with a big four-run third to take a 4-0 inning. The first run scored on a bloop single down the left field like from Hunter Jessee, and then Max Palmieri's three-run homer made it 4-0. It was Palmieri's first homer of the season.
Tommy Boba continued to carve up the WVU hitters, facing just one above the minimum through the first four innings. He was rewarded for his terrific outing with another crooked number in the bottom of the fifth.
Alec Jones smacked a one-out solo homer to left field to increase the lead to 5-0, then Kerrington Cross made it 7-0 with a two-run homer to right field.
Boba turned in another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth before experiencing the lone hiccup of the day. After the Mountaineers' leadoff hitter reached on a bunt single, Reed Chumley brought him home with a two-run home run to put the score at 7-2. The last batter Boba faced he sent down on strikes for his ninth strikeout of the game, which ties his career-high.
The Bearcats continued to pour it on in the bottom of the seventh. Cross singled up the middle to bring home Jones for the first run of the inning, then Lauden Brooks hustled out a ground ball to second base to turn a potential double play into a run-scoring fielder's choice and put the score at 9-2.
A 45-minute rain delay halted the game in the top of the eighth. After the game resumed, West Virginia made it 9-4 with a two-run homer.
In the bottom of the eighth, Kross launched his 14th home run of the season over the fence in right-center field to bring the score to 10-4, which would hold as the final.
// 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.
After succumbing to four West Virginia home runs in the opener on Friday, UC (26-21, 12-11 Big 12) responded with four long balls of its own on Saturday to fuel the big win.
Kerrington Cross, Josh Kross, Alec Jones, and Max Palmieri all hit home runs in game two vs. West Virginia (28-17, 15-8 Big 12). The four homers are a season-high in Big 12 play for the Bearcats.
On the mound Tommy Boba was terrific, tying his career-high with nine strikeouts in 6.1 innings while not surrendering a walk. He faced just one above the minimum through four innings and kept West Virginia off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. The 6.1 innings Boba threw constitute the second-longest outing of the season for the sophomore right-hander.
Kross was also hit by a pitch twice on Saturday, bringing his season total to 22. He now owns the program's single-season HBP record, surpassing Josh Harrison's total of 21 from the 2006 season. Kross entered the weekend 13th in the nation in HBP and second in the Big 12.
Five Bearcat hitters had multi-hit efforts, with Josh Hegemann's 3-for-3 performance leading the way. Alec Jones reached base three times, going 2-for-4 with an HBP, and the top three hitters in the order (Cross, Lauden Brooks, and Kross) all had two-hit days.
The rubber match is set for 1 PM on Sunday.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
After a quick first two innings, Cincinnati struck with a big four-run third to take a 4-0 inning. The first run scored on a bloop single down the left field like from Hunter Jessee, and then Max Palmieri's three-run homer made it 4-0. It was Palmieri's first homer of the season.
Tommy Boba continued to carve up the WVU hitters, facing just one above the minimum through the first four innings. He was rewarded for his terrific outing with another crooked number in the bottom of the fifth.
Alec Jones smacked a one-out solo homer to left field to increase the lead to 5-0, then Kerrington Cross made it 7-0 with a two-run homer to right field.
Boba turned in another 1-2-3 inning in the sixth before experiencing the lone hiccup of the day. After the Mountaineers' leadoff hitter reached on a bunt single, Reed Chumley brought him home with a two-run home run to put the score at 7-2. The last batter Boba faced he sent down on strikes for his ninth strikeout of the game, which ties his career-high.
The Bearcats continued to pour it on in the bottom of the seventh. Cross singled up the middle to bring home Jones for the first run of the inning, then Lauden Brooks hustled out a ground ball to second base to turn a potential double play into a run-scoring fielder's choice and put the score at 9-2.
A 45-minute rain delay halted the game in the top of the eighth. After the game resumed, West Virginia made it 9-4 with a two-run homer.
In the bottom of the eighth, Kross launched his 14th home run of the season over the fence in right-center field to bring the score to 10-4, which would hold as the final.
// 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.