TicketsCINCINNATI – A game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth and a walk-off squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 10th secured a 9-8 win for Cincinnati to claim the series over Arizona State.
The Bearcats (21-14, 8-7 Big 12) led, 7-5, heading into the top of the ninth before ASU (23-13, 9-6 Big 12) scored three to go up 8-7. Unfazed, freshman Quinton Coats hit a two-out, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
Cincinnati broke out the Bischel Ball in the bottom of the 10th. Junior Christian Mitchelle worked a full count and singled to lead off the inning, senior Tommy O'Connor was hit by a pitch to put another runner on, and Mitchelle stole third to put runners at the corners. Redshirt senior Kory Klingenbeck then executed a perfect squeeze bunt that scored Mitchelle and ended the game in exciting fashion.
It was the second walk-off win of the year and the third extra-inning victory of the season for Cincinnati.
With the win, the Bearcats have now won three straight Big 12 series after sweeping UCF on March 28-30 and taking two out of three against Texas Tech in Lubbock last weekend. They'll face a stiff test this upcoming week when they travel to first-place West Virginia for three games starting on Thursday.
Several players came up big for Cincinnati on Sunday to help clinch the series. O'Connor had a great day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a couple RBI coming on a go-ahead double in the eighth inning, and he was plunked twice as well. Redshirt senior Dawson Hokuf was 2-for-3 as well and had a couple doubles. They were two of the six Bearcats to have multi-hit efforts on Sunday. Redshirt senior Kerrington Cross had a double and a triple and made the start at second base, his first appearance there since 2022.
The home run for Coats in the ninth inning had extra significance as it was the freshman's first career collegiate home run. He had tied the game on Wednesday vs. Miami (Ohio) with a three-run homer, but that one was erased when the game was canceled and ruled a no-contest due to weather.
It was a group effort on the mound for UC, with seven pitchers seeing time. Senior Michael Conte earned the win with 1.2 scoreless frames, including a 1-2-3 10th inning that kept the game tied.
Cincinnati hosts rival Xavier on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at UC Baseball Stadium.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
After two straight games of Arizona State scoring in the first inning, it was Cincinnati that found the scoreboard first on Sunday. Cal Sefcik and Dawson Hokuf both drove in runs on RBI doubles to give UC a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Cincinnati scored two more in the bottom of the fifth to go up 4-0. Donovan Ford's bunt would have scored a run anyways, but the speedy center fielder reached first after nobody covered the bag to give him a single. Kory Klingenbeck later scored on a passed ball.
Meanwhile, Adam Mrakitsch entered the game to pitch with two out in the top of the first and retired the first five hitters he faced, and cruised until the sixth inning. That's when the Sun Devils struck, scoring three to pull within a run. A UC error allowed the first two runs to score, and a fielder's choice later brought in the third run. Lauden Brooks doubled in the bottom half of the inning to bring home Hokuf and push the lead back to two.
Back-to-back extra-base hits tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh. ASU's leadoff hitter tripled to start off the inning, then Landon Hairston hit a game-tying, two-run homer to right field to make it all square.
The craziness only increased from there. Tommy O'Connor's two-run double in the bottom of the eighth gave Cincinnati a 7-5 lead and looked to be the big hit of the day. The two-run lead his two-bagger built was erased in the top of the ninth when Arizona State scored three runs to go up 8-7.
Down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth, the Bearcats sent Quinton Coats to the plate as a pinch hitter and the freshman blasted a solo shot to left field to tie the game at 8-8.
Michael Conte retired the Sun Devils in order in the top of the 10th, setting the stage for Klingenbeck's heroics in the bottom half of the inning.
// 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.
The Bearcats (21-14, 8-7 Big 12) led, 7-5, heading into the top of the ninth before ASU (23-13, 9-6 Big 12) scored three to go up 8-7. Unfazed, freshman Quinton Coats hit a two-out, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
Cincinnati broke out the Bischel Ball in the bottom of the 10th. Junior Christian Mitchelle worked a full count and singled to lead off the inning, senior Tommy O'Connor was hit by a pitch to put another runner on, and Mitchelle stole third to put runners at the corners. Redshirt senior Kory Klingenbeck then executed a perfect squeeze bunt that scored Mitchelle and ended the game in exciting fashion.
It was the second walk-off win of the year and the third extra-inning victory of the season for Cincinnati.
With the win, the Bearcats have now won three straight Big 12 series after sweeping UCF on March 28-30 and taking two out of three against Texas Tech in Lubbock last weekend. They'll face a stiff test this upcoming week when they travel to first-place West Virginia for three games starting on Thursday.
Several players came up big for Cincinnati on Sunday to help clinch the series. O'Connor had a great day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a couple RBI coming on a go-ahead double in the eighth inning, and he was plunked twice as well. Redshirt senior Dawson Hokuf was 2-for-3 as well and had a couple doubles. They were two of the six Bearcats to have multi-hit efforts on Sunday. Redshirt senior Kerrington Cross had a double and a triple and made the start at second base, his first appearance there since 2022.
The home run for Coats in the ninth inning had extra significance as it was the freshman's first career collegiate home run. He had tied the game on Wednesday vs. Miami (Ohio) with a three-run homer, but that one was erased when the game was canceled and ruled a no-contest due to weather.
It was a group effort on the mound for UC, with seven pitchers seeing time. Senior Michael Conte earned the win with 1.2 scoreless frames, including a 1-2-3 10th inning that kept the game tied.
Cincinnati hosts rival Xavier on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at UC Baseball Stadium.
🗣️ @BischelJordan
— Cincinnati Baseball (@GoBearcatsBASE) April 13, 2025
Hear from head coach Jordan Bischel following today's walk-off win vs. Arizona State!#Bearcats | #TenGames pic.twitter.com/ForFj2xoVp
// HOW IT HAPPENED
After two straight games of Arizona State scoring in the first inning, it was Cincinnati that found the scoreboard first on Sunday. Cal Sefcik and Dawson Hokuf both drove in runs on RBI doubles to give UC a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Cincinnati scored two more in the bottom of the fifth to go up 4-0. Donovan Ford's bunt would have scored a run anyways, but the speedy center fielder reached first after nobody covered the bag to give him a single. Kory Klingenbeck later scored on a passed ball.
Meanwhile, Adam Mrakitsch entered the game to pitch with two out in the top of the first and retired the first five hitters he faced, and cruised until the sixth inning. That's when the Sun Devils struck, scoring three to pull within a run. A UC error allowed the first two runs to score, and a fielder's choice later brought in the third run. Lauden Brooks doubled in the bottom half of the inning to bring home Hokuf and push the lead back to two.
Back-to-back extra-base hits tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh. ASU's leadoff hitter tripled to start off the inning, then Landon Hairston hit a game-tying, two-run homer to right field to make it all square.
The craziness only increased from there. Tommy O'Connor's two-run double in the bottom of the eighth gave Cincinnati a 7-5 lead and looked to be the big hit of the day. The two-run lead his two-bagger built was erased in the top of the ninth when Arizona State scored three runs to go up 8-7.
Down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth, the Bearcats sent Quinton Coats to the plate as a pinch hitter and the freshman blasted a solo shot to left field to tie the game at 8-8.
Michael Conte retired the Sun Devils in order in the top of the 10th, setting the stage for Klingenbeck's heroics in the bottom half of the inning.
// 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.