TicketsLAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team and No. 25 Kansas were locked in a pitchers' duel on Friday night before six runs over the final two innings propelled UC to a 7-2 win.
It's the fourth ranked win of the season for the Bearcats (25-20, 11-11 Big 12) and their first against a ranked Big 12 team this season.
Sophomore Nathan Taylor and Kansas (36-11, 15-7 Big 12) starting pitcher Dominic Voegele were the stars of the show for the first seven innings. Voegele, the Big 12's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, had seven strikeouts and had held UC to just two hits through the first seven frames. Taylor was equally as excellent, holding the Jayhawks to four hits with six K's through seven.
The offensive floodgates opened for Cincinnati in the top of the eighth. Sophomore Jack Natili's three-run home run off Voegele turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead, then UC scored three more in the top of the ninth to extend the lead to 7-2.
Taylor's night ended with seven strikeouts in eight innings, a career-long outing for the sophomore. The Amelia, Ohio native entered the night ranking second in the Big 12 in ERA, and lowered it a bit on Friday night from 2.59 to 2.54.
Three Bearcats homered, with Natili's three-run shot in the eighth being the big blow. Junior Landyn Vidourek hit a two-run shot in the ninth inning and redshirt senior Dawson Hokuf hit a solo homer early in the game. It was Hokuf's first homer in a Cincinnati uniform.
Redshirt senior Kellen O'Connor ended the game on the mound, pitching a scoreless ninth inning while striking out two.
Game two of the series is set for 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Kansas opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first, but UC quickly tied the game with a run in the top of the second. Dawson Hokuf drilled the first pitch he saw well over the wall in left field to make it a 1-1 game.
Cincinnati had a tough time figuring out Voegele after the home run. The KU starting pitcher retired 15 straight hitters at one point. Nathan Taylor was outstanding as well, and after allowing a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the fourth he locked back in and sent down 11 consecutive Jayhawk hitters.
The score still sat at 2-1 Kansas after seven innings, and Voegele struck out the first hitter in the top of the eighth. That's where his streak ended though, as Landyn Vidourek's base hit was followed by Kerrington Cross' single to put two runners on for Jack Natili. The sophomore backstop launched the first pitch he saw over the right field wall to completely flip the script, giving Cincinnati its first lead of the night.
Kansas put two runners on in the bottom of the eighth to threaten, but Cross made an outstanding leaping catch to snag a line drive to end the inning.
The Bearcats continued to pile it on in the ninth. Derrick Pitts brought in a run on a sac fly, then Vidourek hit a two-run shot to left field to make it 7-2. Kellen O'Connor entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and put up a scoreless frame to clinch 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.
It's the fourth ranked win of the season for the Bearcats (25-20, 11-11 Big 12) and their first against a ranked Big 12 team this season.
Sophomore Nathan Taylor and Kansas (36-11, 15-7 Big 12) starting pitcher Dominic Voegele were the stars of the show for the first seven innings. Voegele, the Big 12's Preseason Pitcher of the Year, had seven strikeouts and had held UC to just two hits through the first seven frames. Taylor was equally as excellent, holding the Jayhawks to four hits with six K's through seven.
The offensive floodgates opened for Cincinnati in the top of the eighth. Sophomore Jack Natili's three-run home run off Voegele turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead, then UC scored three more in the top of the ninth to extend the lead to 7-2.
Taylor's night ended with seven strikeouts in eight innings, a career-long outing for the sophomore. The Amelia, Ohio native entered the night ranking second in the Big 12 in ERA, and lowered it a bit on Friday night from 2.59 to 2.54.
Three Bearcats homered, with Natili's three-run shot in the eighth being the big blow. Junior Landyn Vidourek hit a two-run shot in the ninth inning and redshirt senior Dawson Hokuf hit a solo homer early in the game. It was Hokuf's first homer in a Cincinnati uniform.
Redshirt senior Kellen O'Connor ended the game on the mound, pitching a scoreless ninth inning while striking out two.
Game two of the series is set for 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Kansas opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first, but UC quickly tied the game with a run in the top of the second. Dawson Hokuf drilled the first pitch he saw well over the wall in left field to make it a 1-1 game.
Cincinnati had a tough time figuring out Voegele after the home run. The KU starting pitcher retired 15 straight hitters at one point. Nathan Taylor was outstanding as well, and after allowing a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the fourth he locked back in and sent down 11 consecutive Jayhawk hitters.
The score still sat at 2-1 Kansas after seven innings, and Voegele struck out the first hitter in the top of the eighth. That's where his streak ended though, as Landyn Vidourek's base hit was followed by Kerrington Cross' single to put two runners on for Jack Natili. The sophomore backstop launched the first pitch he saw over the right field wall to completely flip the script, giving Cincinnati its first lead of the night.
Kansas put two runners on in the bottom of the eighth to threaten, but Cross made an outstanding leaping catch to snag a line drive to end the inning.
The Bearcats continued to pile it on in the ninth. Derrick Pitts brought in a run on a sac fly, then Vidourek hit a two-run shot to left field to make it 7-2. Kellen O'Connor entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and put up a scoreless frame to clinch 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.