TicketsFORT WORTH, Texas – The University of Cincinnati baseball team's 11-day road trip is over following Sunday's wild 9-8 win at TCU.
The Bearcats are now 29-22 overall and 14-13 in Big 12 play, and end their road trip with a record of 5-2. The victories came against teams a pair of Top 40 RPI teams in TCU and Kansas, as well as a midweek win on the road at Oral Roberts, a 30-win ballclub.
Sunday's game was a back-and-forth affair. For the first time in five games, Cincinnati did not score in the top of the first, and TCU took advantage by plating a run in the bottom half of the inning to grab the lead. Sophomore Jack Natili homered in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1, but that proved to be the start of a tug-of-war between the two squads.
The Horned Frogs scored three in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-2, then UC scored three in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. The lead changed hands or the score was tied four more times after that, and it wasn't until a two-run top of the eighth that the Bearcats took the lead for good. TCU did score a run in the bottom of the eighth to pull within one, 9-8, but UC held on in the ninth to win.
Cincinnati hit 10 home runs over the weekend, including four on Sunday. Natili, junior Landyn Vidourek, senior Tommy O'Connor, and freshman Derrick Pitts all hit home runs as well. Pitts went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs, while O'Connor and Vidourek tallied two RBI apiece. Sophomore Cal Sefcik reached base four times, collecting two hits and walking twice.
Seven different pitchers combined to get the job done on the mound. Freshman Adam Buczkowski earned the win, striking out five in two innings of work. Redshirt senior Max Bergmann finished the game to earn the save, his sixth career save.
Four games remain in the regular season, all of which will be played at UC Baseball Stadium. Cincinnati hosts Indiana on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. before welcoming Kansas State
// HOW IT HAPPENED
TCU struck first on Sunday, scoring a run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first to take at 1-0 lead.
Jack Natili tied the game in the top of the fourth with a solo homer, which sparked an offensive outburst from both teams. TCU scored three in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-1, then UC tied the game with three runs in the top of the fifth. A sacrifice fly from Derrick Pitts opened the scoring that inning, then Landyn Vidourek's two-run bomb tied the game at 4-4.
The game wasn't tied for long, as TCU grabbed the lead again with a sac fly in the bottom of the fifth, but the Bearcats punched back with a three-run top of the sixth. Tommy O'Connor's two-run home run gave Cincinnati a 6-5 lead, and two batters later Pitts homered to the opposite field to increase the lead to 7-5.
The Horned Frogs pulled within a run in the bottom of the sixth, then a one-out home run in the bottom of the seventh tied the score at 7-7.
The Bearcats took the lead for good in the top of the eighth. Cal Sefcik scored easily on a 6-4-3 double play as the Horned Frogs opted to trade the two outs for a run. Pitts then singled up the middle to drive in Lauden Brooks and give UC a 9-7 lead.
TCU scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 9-8, but Max Bergmann entered the game and held strong to seal the win.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL TICKET INFO
The baseball season is winding down, but we still have important home games left against Indiana (May 13) and Kansas State (May 15-17), and we would love to see you at the ballpark! 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 are now 29-22 overall and 14-13 in Big 12 play, and end their road trip with a record of 5-2. The victories came against teams a pair of Top 40 RPI teams in TCU and Kansas, as well as a midweek win on the road at Oral Roberts, a 30-win ballclub.
Sunday's game was a back-and-forth affair. For the first time in five games, Cincinnati did not score in the top of the first, and TCU took advantage by plating a run in the bottom half of the inning to grab the lead. Sophomore Jack Natili homered in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1, but that proved to be the start of a tug-of-war between the two squads.
The Horned Frogs scored three in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-2, then UC scored three in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. The lead changed hands or the score was tied four more times after that, and it wasn't until a two-run top of the eighth that the Bearcats took the lead for good. TCU did score a run in the bottom of the eighth to pull within one, 9-8, but UC held on in the ninth to win.
Cincinnati hit 10 home runs over the weekend, including four on Sunday. Natili, junior Landyn Vidourek, senior Tommy O'Connor, and freshman Derrick Pitts all hit home runs as well. Pitts went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs, while O'Connor and Vidourek tallied two RBI apiece. Sophomore Cal Sefcik reached base four times, collecting two hits and walking twice.
Seven different pitchers combined to get the job done on the mound. Freshman Adam Buczkowski earned the win, striking out five in two innings of work. Redshirt senior Max Bergmann finished the game to earn the save, his sixth career save.
Four games remain in the regular season, all of which will be played at UC Baseball Stadium. Cincinnati hosts Indiana on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. before welcoming Kansas State
// HOW IT HAPPENED
TCU struck first on Sunday, scoring a run on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first to take at 1-0 lead.
Jack Natili tied the game in the top of the fourth with a solo homer, which sparked an offensive outburst from both teams. TCU scored three in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-1, then UC tied the game with three runs in the top of the fifth. A sacrifice fly from Derrick Pitts opened the scoring that inning, then Landyn Vidourek's two-run bomb tied the game at 4-4.
The game wasn't tied for long, as TCU grabbed the lead again with a sac fly in the bottom of the fifth, but the Bearcats punched back with a three-run top of the sixth. Tommy O'Connor's two-run home run gave Cincinnati a 6-5 lead, and two batters later Pitts homered to the opposite field to increase the lead to 7-5.
The Horned Frogs pulled within a run in the bottom of the sixth, then a one-out home run in the bottom of the seventh tied the score at 7-7.
The Bearcats took the lead for good in the top of the eighth. Cal Sefcik scored easily on a 6-4-3 double play as the Horned Frogs opted to trade the two outs for a run. Pitts then singled up the middle to drive in Lauden Brooks and give UC a 9-7 lead.
TCU scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 9-8, but Max Bergmann entered the game and held strong to seal the win.
// CINCINNATI BASEBALL TICKET INFO
The baseball season is winding down, but we still have important home games left against Indiana (May 13) and Kansas State (May 15-17), and we would love to see you at the ballpark! 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.