TicketsMORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team had the tying runner at third base in the top of the ninth, but ultimately left him stranded in a 3-2 loss at No. 24 West Virginia on Thursday night.
Trailing by a run in the ninth, freshman Quinton Coats led off the inning with a base hit and was relieved for a pinch runner, fellow freshman Derrick Pitts. Pitts stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, putting the tying run 90 feet away with one out. The second out came via strikeout and, with the Bearcats down to their last strike, a swing and a miss found the backstop and Pitts scampered home to seemingly tie the game. After an official review, however, it was ruled that the ball hit the batter's foot and was ruled dead, leaving Pitts at third and ending the game on a strikeout.
Sophomore Nathan Taylor made the start and struck out four in six innings of work. It was his sixth start this season of at least six innings. Junior Chase Horst and freshman Adam Buczkowski pitched in relief against the Mountaineers, and Buczkowski provided two clutch strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth to keep the deficit at one.
At the plate, senior Donovan Ford drove in both of Cincinnati's runs in the third inning on a base hit to right field. Junior Landyn Vidourek reached base twice via the walk and stole a base, his 21st theft of the season.
Game two is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
West Virginia struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0. After the third hitter of the inning reached on a dropped third strike, he stole second base and later scored on a base hit through the right side of the infield that gave the Mountaineers and earl advantage.
The Bearcats used their brand of baseball to take the lead in the top of the third. Lauden Brooks led off the inning with a single, then Kory Klingenbeck and Kerrington Cross reached on back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases. Donovan Ford then lined one into right field to bring in a couple runs and put the score at 2-1.
The Mountaineers tie the game in the bottom half of the third, scoring on a passed ball, and later regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. A double down the left field line allowed the runner from first to come all the way around to score and make it 3-2. The Bearcats had loaded the bases in the top half of the sixth, but were unable to bring anyone home.
West Virginia loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth and had a chance to score some insurance runs, but Adam Buczkowski came in from the bullpen and sent the only two hitters he faced down on strikes, his second K coming on three pitches.
Quinton Coats led off the top of the ninth with a single and Derrick Pitts made his way to third as a pinch runner, but was left stranded there to end the game.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL TICKET INFO
Upcoming Big 12 series at UC Baseball Stadium this season include Oklahoma State (April 25-27), and Kansas State (May 15-17). There are also non-conference games against UW-Milwaukee (April 23) and Indiana (May 13) remaining on the schedule.
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.
Trailing by a run in the ninth, freshman Quinton Coats led off the inning with a base hit and was relieved for a pinch runner, fellow freshman Derrick Pitts. Pitts stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, putting the tying run 90 feet away with one out. The second out came via strikeout and, with the Bearcats down to their last strike, a swing and a miss found the backstop and Pitts scampered home to seemingly tie the game. After an official review, however, it was ruled that the ball hit the batter's foot and was ruled dead, leaving Pitts at third and ending the game on a strikeout.
Sophomore Nathan Taylor made the start and struck out four in six innings of work. It was his sixth start this season of at least six innings. Junior Chase Horst and freshman Adam Buczkowski pitched in relief against the Mountaineers, and Buczkowski provided two clutch strikeouts in the bottom of the eighth to keep the deficit at one.
At the plate, senior Donovan Ford drove in both of Cincinnati's runs in the third inning on a base hit to right field. Junior Landyn Vidourek reached base twice via the walk and stole a base, his 21st theft of the season.
Game two is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
West Virginia struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0. After the third hitter of the inning reached on a dropped third strike, he stole second base and later scored on a base hit through the right side of the infield that gave the Mountaineers and earl advantage.
The Bearcats used their brand of baseball to take the lead in the top of the third. Lauden Brooks led off the inning with a single, then Kory Klingenbeck and Kerrington Cross reached on back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases. Donovan Ford then lined one into right field to bring in a couple runs and put the score at 2-1.
The Mountaineers tie the game in the bottom half of the third, scoring on a passed ball, and later regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth. A double down the left field line allowed the runner from first to come all the way around to score and make it 3-2. The Bearcats had loaded the bases in the top half of the sixth, but were unable to bring anyone home.
West Virginia loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth and had a chance to score some insurance runs, but Adam Buczkowski came in from the bullpen and sent the only two hitters he faced down on strikes, his second K coming on three pitches.
Quinton Coats led off the top of the ninth with a single and Derrick Pitts made his way to third as a pinch runner, but was left stranded there to end the game.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL TICKET INFO
Upcoming Big 12 series at UC Baseball Stadium this season include Oklahoma State (April 25-27), and Kansas State (May 15-17). There are also non-conference games against UW-Milwaukee (April 23) and Indiana (May 13) remaining on the schedule.
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.