TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team lost game one of its doubleheader vs. BYU on Friday, but bounced back to take game two and snap a four-game losing streak.
The Cougars (12-9, 2-3 Big 12) took game one, 7-5, before the Bearcats (12-10, 1-4 Big 12) rebounded with a 5-4 victory in game two.
Game one was scoreless until the fourth inning when a solo homer gave BYU a 1-0 lead. Cincinnati responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Cougars continued to pile it on. They scored three in the sixth, one in the seventh, and two in the eighth en route to a 7-5 victory.
BYU struck first again in the second game with a three-run home run in the top of the first, but the Bearcats were able to regain control and allowed just one run the rest of the way.
Sophomore Jack Natili had a good day at the plate, driving in five runs across both games of the doubleheader. Redshirt senior Kerrington Cross had three hits in the first game and two more in game two, and he drew two walks in the second game as well. Senior Tommy O'Connor homered in the second game, and junior Landyn Vidourek reached base three times operating out of the second spot in the order.
On the mound, sophomore Nathan Taylor earned the win in the night cap by striking out seven in 6.2 innings of work. Redshirt junior Joel Pineiro and redshirt senior Brandon Scheurer closed out the win, with Scheurer earning the save, his first of the season.
The rubber match is set for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
// HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)
It was a pitcher's duel to start the first game, but BYU's Luke Anderson opened the scoring with a solo homer in the top of the fourth.
The Bearcats' gained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, two-run single by Jack Natili. Charlie Niehaus walked, Kerrington Cross singled, and Landyn Vidourek walked to load the bases, then Natili ripped a 3-2 pitch into center field to give UC its first lead of the day. Vidourek later scored on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 3-1.
Cincinnati's lead didn't last long, as Cooper Vest's three-run homer in the top of the sixth put the Cougars back in front, 4-3. Cross' RBI single in the bottom of the sixth tied the game at 4-4, but once again BYU responded quickly. A UC throwing error in the seventh brought in a run, then a two-run home run off the bat of Brock Watkins in the eighth gave the Cougars a 7-4 advantage.
The Bearcats did not go down without a fight, as Natili singled home a run in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally would stop there.
// HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)
BYU got off to a fast start with a three-run homer in the top of the first from Cooper Vest. Cincinnati got two of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning to put the score at 3-2. Kerrington Cross scored on Jack Natili's fielder's choice, and Cal Sefcik drove in Landyn Vidourek to bring in the second run of the inning.
The big swing in game two came off the bat of Tommy O'Connor, who blasted a towering two-run home run in the bottom of the third to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead. Another RBI fielder's choice for Natili in the sixth made it 5-3.
After allowing the home run in the first inning, Nathan Taylor calmed down and kept the Cougars off the scoreboard until the seventh. A single to center field scored one run for BYU, but Donovan Ford's throw nailed the runner coming from second base to keep UC ahead. Joel Pineiro recorded the final out of the inning.
BYU put together a ninth-inning rally in an attempt to tie the game, putting two runs on base in its last trip to the plate. With runners at first and second and one out, Brandon Scheurer entered the game and induced a pair of harmless fly balls to end the game and earn the save.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL SEASON TICKETS
Still need your tickets for the 2025 season? Starting at just $75 for adults and $50 for youth, seniors & military, it's the perfect time to lock in your seats for year two of the Jordan Bischel era in Cincinnati. To purchase your season tickets, visit cpaw.me/SeasonTickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on X/Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.
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The Cougars (12-9, 2-3 Big 12) took game one, 7-5, before the Bearcats (12-10, 1-4 Big 12) rebounded with a 5-4 victory in game two.
Game one was scoreless until the fourth inning when a solo homer gave BYU a 1-0 lead. Cincinnati responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Cougars continued to pile it on. They scored three in the sixth, one in the seventh, and two in the eighth en route to a 7-5 victory.
BYU struck first again in the second game with a three-run home run in the top of the first, but the Bearcats were able to regain control and allowed just one run the rest of the way.
Sophomore Jack Natili had a good day at the plate, driving in five runs across both games of the doubleheader. Redshirt senior Kerrington Cross had three hits in the first game and two more in game two, and he drew two walks in the second game as well. Senior Tommy O'Connor homered in the second game, and junior Landyn Vidourek reached base three times operating out of the second spot in the order.
On the mound, sophomore Nathan Taylor earned the win in the night cap by striking out seven in 6.2 innings of work. Redshirt junior Joel Pineiro and redshirt senior Brandon Scheurer closed out the win, with Scheurer earning the save, his first of the season.
The rubber match is set for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
// HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1)
It was a pitcher's duel to start the first game, but BYU's Luke Anderson opened the scoring with a solo homer in the top of the fourth.
The Bearcats' gained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out, two-run single by Jack Natili. Charlie Niehaus walked, Kerrington Cross singled, and Landyn Vidourek walked to load the bases, then Natili ripped a 3-2 pitch into center field to give UC its first lead of the day. Vidourek later scored on a wild pitch to increase the lead to 3-1.
Cincinnati's lead didn't last long, as Cooper Vest's three-run homer in the top of the sixth put the Cougars back in front, 4-3. Cross' RBI single in the bottom of the sixth tied the game at 4-4, but once again BYU responded quickly. A UC throwing error in the seventh brought in a run, then a two-run home run off the bat of Brock Watkins in the eighth gave the Cougars a 7-4 advantage.
The Bearcats did not go down without a fight, as Natili singled home a run in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally would stop there.
// HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2)
BYU got off to a fast start with a three-run homer in the top of the first from Cooper Vest. Cincinnati got two of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning to put the score at 3-2. Kerrington Cross scored on Jack Natili's fielder's choice, and Cal Sefcik drove in Landyn Vidourek to bring in the second run of the inning.
The big swing in game two came off the bat of Tommy O'Connor, who blasted a towering two-run home run in the bottom of the third to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead. Another RBI fielder's choice for Natili in the sixth made it 5-3.
After allowing the home run in the first inning, Nathan Taylor calmed down and kept the Cougars off the scoreboard until the seventh. A single to center field scored one run for BYU, but Donovan Ford's throw nailed the runner coming from second base to keep UC ahead. Joel Pineiro recorded the final out of the inning.
BYU put together a ninth-inning rally in an attempt to tie the game, putting two runs on base in its last trip to the plate. With runners at first and second and one out, Brandon Scheurer entered the game and induced a pair of harmless fly balls to end the game and earn the save.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL SEASON TICKETS
Still need your tickets for the 2025 season? Starting at just $75 for adults and $50 for youth, seniors & military, it's the perfect time to lock in your seats for year two of the Jordan Bischel era in Cincinnati. To purchase your season tickets, visit cpaw.me/SeasonTickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
NOTE: All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on X/Twitter at @GoBearcatsBASE.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.