TicketsMORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team dropped game two of its series at No. 24 West Virginia on Friday night by a score of 6-4.
The series finale on Saturday is set for 2:00 p.m.
In game two, West Virginia once again took an early lead and expanded on it in the fifth and sixth inning via the home run. Cincinnati scored three runs over the final three innings, including two in the ninth, but couldn't complete the comeback.
Sophomore Jack Natili homered in the fourth inning, his third of the season. It was a return to the lineup for Natili, who had missed the previous three games.
The top four hitters in the order accounted for all four RBI: Natili, redshirt senior Kerrington Cross, junior Landyn Vidourek, and senior Donovan Ford.
Redshirt senior Kellen O'Connor got the start in game two and redshirt junior Joel Pineiro pitched in relief, striking out two in 2.2 innings.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight night, West Virginia scored in the first inning to grab an early lead. With two outs and a runner on third, the WVU batter skied a pop up that fell safely just inside the first base line and allowed the runner to score to make it 1-0. UC's best offensive change in the early going was in the second inning after Dawson Hokuf doubled and Tommy O'Connor walked to put runners on first and second, but both were left stranded to end the inning.
The Bearcats tied the game in the top of the fourth on a solo homer from Jack Natili, putting to score at 1-1. The Mountaineers got that run back in the bottom of the fourth on a sac fly to retake the lead.
West Virginia used the long ball in the fifth and sixth to extend its lead. A solo homer in the fifth and two home runs in the sixth made it a 6-1 ballgame.
Donovan Ford's sac fly in the top of the seventh trimmed the deficit to four, and Cincinnati would go on to score two runs in the ninth to make things interesting. Kerrington Cross' RBI triple made it 6-3, then Landyn Vidourek drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 6-4. The next two hitters were retired, however, 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.
The series finale on Saturday is set for 2:00 p.m.
In game two, West Virginia once again took an early lead and expanded on it in the fifth and sixth inning via the home run. Cincinnati scored three runs over the final three innings, including two in the ninth, but couldn't complete the comeback.
Sophomore Jack Natili homered in the fourth inning, his third of the season. It was a return to the lineup for Natili, who had missed the previous three games.
The top four hitters in the order accounted for all four RBI: Natili, redshirt senior Kerrington Cross, junior Landyn Vidourek, and senior Donovan Ford.
Redshirt senior Kellen O'Connor got the start in game two and redshirt junior Joel Pineiro pitched in relief, striking out two in 2.2 innings.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight night, West Virginia scored in the first inning to grab an early lead. With two outs and a runner on third, the WVU batter skied a pop up that fell safely just inside the first base line and allowed the runner to score to make it 1-0. UC's best offensive change in the early going was in the second inning after Dawson Hokuf doubled and Tommy O'Connor walked to put runners on first and second, but both were left stranded to end the inning.
The Bearcats tied the game in the top of the fourth on a solo homer from Jack Natili, putting to score at 1-1. The Mountaineers got that run back in the bottom of the fourth on a sac fly to retake the lead.
West Virginia used the long ball in the fifth and sixth to extend its lead. A solo homer in the fifth and two home runs in the sixth made it a 6-1 ballgame.
Donovan Ford's sac fly in the top of the seventh trimmed the deficit to four, and Cincinnati would go on to score two runs in the ninth to make things interesting. Kerrington Cross' RBI triple made it 6-3, then Landyn Vidourek drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 6-4. The next two hitters were retired, however, 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.