TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati baseball team trailed Arizona State 6-2 in the sixth inning, but scored four runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth to come back and win 11-7.
UC improved to 12-2 at home this season and is now 30-10 at UC Baseball Stadium under head coach Jordan Bischel.
The Bearcats' (20-13, 7-6 Big 12) 20th win of the season was a wild one, and took a couple late rallies to happen. The Sun Devils (22-12, 8-5 Big 12) led, 6-2, after the top of the sixth and hadkept UC off the scoreboard for four straight innings. Cincinnati got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, but the big inning was the bottom of the seventh when it batted around and scored four runs to take its first lead of the night. Senior Tommy O'Connor's two-run double sparked the rally, and redshirt senior Kerrington Cross tied the game with an RBI infield single. Three batters later, sophomore Jack Natili forced a full count with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run.
With the floodgates opened, the Bearcats added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to increase their lead. ASU scored a run in the ninth, but it was inconsequential to the final outcome.
O'Connor went 2-for-4 with three RBI, which tied his season-high total. Cross reached base three times and drove in a couple runs out of the leadoff spot, and Natili also logged two RBI. Senior Lauden Brooks and sophomore Cal Sefcik each had two hits.
On the mound, the bullpen kept the Sun Devils in check while the bats mounted a comeback. Junior Chase Horst earned the win, striking out two while putting together two strong innings. Freshman Hudson Johnson and redshirt senior Brandon Scheurer closed out the game for the Bearcats.
First pitch for game two on Saturday is set for 3:00 p.m.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Arizona State started the game off with a four-run first inning to take a big lead early. After a UC error with two outs kept the inning going, ASU rattled off four straight hits pile it on in the top of the first. UC responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to make it 4-2. Jack Natili's RBI double preceded Christian Mitchelle's run-scoring bunt single to halve the Sun Devils' lead.
Arizona State tacked on runs in the fourth and sixth innings to add to its lead, but Cincinnati got one of those runs back on an RBI fielder's choice from Landyn Vidourek to put the score at 6-3.
The Bearcats' big inning took place in the bottom of the seventh when they scored four runs to go up 7-6. O'Connor drove in two more runs on a double into right field that made it a one-run game, then Kerrington Cross hustled out an infield single that scored O'Connor and tied the game at 6-6. Donovan Ford was hit by a pitch and Vidourek was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing Jack Natili to the plate. Natili worked a full count and was eventually hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run.
Cincinnati scored four more in the eighth to extend its lead to 11-6. O'Connor drove in his third run of the night on a single up the middle, and Cross later drove him home after poking a single through the right side of the infield. Ford and Mitchelle drove in runs as well in the eighth.
Arizona State got one run back in the top of the ninth, but after allowing the RBI double Brandon Scheurer got a strikeout for our number two and induced an game-ending ground ball to seal the deal.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL TICKET INFO
Upcoming Big 12 series at UC Baseball Stadium include Oklahoma State (April 25-27) and Kansas State (May 15-17). Non-conference games left at UC Baseball Stadium include midweek contests vs. Xavier (April 15) and Indiana (May 13).
There is still a lot of great baseball left to be played at UC Baseball Stadium this season! To purchase your tickets, visit cpaw.me/Tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
UC improved to 12-2 at home this season and is now 30-10 at UC Baseball Stadium under head coach Jordan Bischel.
The Bearcats' (20-13, 7-6 Big 12) 20th win of the season was a wild one, and took a couple late rallies to happen. The Sun Devils (22-12, 8-5 Big 12) led, 6-2, after the top of the sixth and hadkept UC off the scoreboard for four straight innings. Cincinnati got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, but the big inning was the bottom of the seventh when it batted around and scored four runs to take its first lead of the night. Senior Tommy O'Connor's two-run double sparked the rally, and redshirt senior Kerrington Cross tied the game with an RBI infield single. Three batters later, sophomore Jack Natili forced a full count with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run.
With the floodgates opened, the Bearcats added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to increase their lead. ASU scored a run in the ninth, but it was inconsequential to the final outcome.
O'Connor went 2-for-4 with three RBI, which tied his season-high total. Cross reached base three times and drove in a couple runs out of the leadoff spot, and Natili also logged two RBI. Senior Lauden Brooks and sophomore Cal Sefcik each had two hits.
On the mound, the bullpen kept the Sun Devils in check while the bats mounted a comeback. Junior Chase Horst earned the win, striking out two while putting together two strong innings. Freshman Hudson Johnson and redshirt senior Brandon Scheurer closed out the game for the Bearcats.
First pitch for game two on Saturday is set for 3:00 p.m.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Arizona State started the game off with a four-run first inning to take a big lead early. After a UC error with two outs kept the inning going, ASU rattled off four straight hits pile it on in the top of the first. UC responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to make it 4-2. Jack Natili's RBI double preceded Christian Mitchelle's run-scoring bunt single to halve the Sun Devils' lead.
Arizona State tacked on runs in the fourth and sixth innings to add to its lead, but Cincinnati got one of those runs back on an RBI fielder's choice from Landyn Vidourek to put the score at 6-3.
The Bearcats' big inning took place in the bottom of the seventh when they scored four runs to go up 7-6. O'Connor drove in two more runs on a double into right field that made it a one-run game, then Kerrington Cross hustled out an infield single that scored O'Connor and tied the game at 6-6. Donovan Ford was hit by a pitch and Vidourek was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing Jack Natili to the plate. Natili worked a full count and was eventually hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run.
Cincinnati scored four more in the eighth to extend its lead to 11-6. O'Connor drove in his third run of the night on a single up the middle, and Cross later drove him home after poking a single through the right side of the infield. Ford and Mitchelle drove in runs as well in the eighth.
Arizona State got one run back in the top of the ninth, but after allowing the RBI double Brandon Scheurer got a strikeout for our number two and induced an game-ending ground ball to seal the deal.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL TICKET INFO
Upcoming Big 12 series at UC Baseball Stadium include Oklahoma State (April 25-27) and Kansas State (May 15-17). Non-conference games left at UC Baseball Stadium include midweek contests vs. Xavier (April 15) and Indiana (May 13).
There is still a lot of great baseball left to be played at UC Baseball Stadium this season! To purchase your tickets, visit cpaw.me/Tickets or call 1-877-CATS-TIX (1-877-228-7849).
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.