TicketsTULSA, Okla. – A five-run first inning and a stellar relief outing for redshirt senior Brandon Scheurer highlighted Cincinnati's 10-2 win at Oral Roberts on Tuesday night.
It was the fourth straight win for the Bearcats (28-20), who were facing the Golden Eagles (27-19) for the first time in school history.
Senior Lauden Brooks smashed a three-run homer in the top of the first to cap a five-run inning, and UC controlled the game from that point on. Oral Roberts scored a couple in the bottom of the fourth, but Scheurer shut them down in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. The right-hander struck out a season-high six and allowed just one hit in four innings of work. Senior Adam Mrakitsch sent down the Golden Eagles in order in the ninth to end the game.
It was the third straight game with at least 10 runs for the Bearcats, the second time this season they have scored double-digit runs in three straight games.
Brooks was 3-for-4 with the home run and a stolen base, one of three UC hitters with at least three hits on Tuesday. Sophomore Jack Natili was 4-for-4 with two RBI, and freshman Quinton Coats went 3-for-5. Natili now has 12 hits in four games on the road trip.
Junior Landyn Vidourek stole two bases to bring his total to 33. His stolen base total this season now ranks fifth all-time in school history, passing Josh Harrison's 2008 campaign when he stole 32 bags.
Redshirt senior Kerrington Cross, fresh off his weekly awards, went 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored to help the cause.
Following Tuesday's game, Cincinnati will head to Fort Worth for its series at TCU this weekend.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
After an explosive weekend at Kansas, Cincinnati picked up right where it left off on Tuesday by score five runs in the top of the first. Jack Natili and Quinton Coats drove in runs on RBI singles, then Lauden Brooks unloaded on an 0-2 pitch and hit a three-run homer to make it 5-0.
The Bearcats added to their lead in the second and fourth innings. Jack Natili's double down the line in left field in the top of the second brought in Landyn Vidourek, and Cal Sefcik's sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth put the score at 7-0.
Oral Roberts broke through with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 7-2. The Bearcats got one of those runs back in the top of the sixth with some deft baserunning. With runners at the corners, Natili broke for second and, on the catcher's throw, Cross headed home on a delayed double steal and scored safely to make it 8-2.
Meanwhile, Brandon Scheurer carved up the ORU hitters in his four scoreless innings. He retired the first six hitters he faced and allowed just one baserunner.
Cincinnati scored two more in the top of the ninth. Kory Klingenbeck reached on a bunt single and, when the throw sailed past the first baseman, Coats scored easily. Vidourek's sacrifice fly closed out the scoring.
// 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 was the fourth straight win for the Bearcats (28-20), who were facing the Golden Eagles (27-19) for the first time in school history.
Senior Lauden Brooks smashed a three-run homer in the top of the first to cap a five-run inning, and UC controlled the game from that point on. Oral Roberts scored a couple in the bottom of the fourth, but Scheurer shut them down in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. The right-hander struck out a season-high six and allowed just one hit in four innings of work. Senior Adam Mrakitsch sent down the Golden Eagles in order in the ninth to end the game.
It was the third straight game with at least 10 runs for the Bearcats, the second time this season they have scored double-digit runs in three straight games.
Brooks was 3-for-4 with the home run and a stolen base, one of three UC hitters with at least three hits on Tuesday. Sophomore Jack Natili was 4-for-4 with two RBI, and freshman Quinton Coats went 3-for-5. Natili now has 12 hits in four games on the road trip.
Junior Landyn Vidourek stole two bases to bring his total to 33. His stolen base total this season now ranks fifth all-time in school history, passing Josh Harrison's 2008 campaign when he stole 32 bags.
Redshirt senior Kerrington Cross, fresh off his weekly awards, went 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored to help the cause.
Following Tuesday's game, Cincinnati will head to Fort Worth for its series at TCU this weekend.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
After an explosive weekend at Kansas, Cincinnati picked up right where it left off on Tuesday by score five runs in the top of the first. Jack Natili and Quinton Coats drove in runs on RBI singles, then Lauden Brooks unloaded on an 0-2 pitch and hit a three-run homer to make it 5-0.
The Bearcats added to their lead in the second and fourth innings. Jack Natili's double down the line in left field in the top of the second brought in Landyn Vidourek, and Cal Sefcik's sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth put the score at 7-0.
Oral Roberts broke through with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 7-2. The Bearcats got one of those runs back in the top of the sixth with some deft baserunning. With runners at the corners, Natili broke for second and, on the catcher's throw, Cross headed home on a delayed double steal and scored safely to make it 8-2.
Meanwhile, Brandon Scheurer carved up the ORU hitters in his four scoreless innings. He retired the first six hitters he faced and allowed just one baserunner.
Cincinnati scored two more in the top of the ninth. Kory Klingenbeck reached on a bunt single and, when the throw sailed past the first baseman, Coats scored easily. Vidourek's sacrifice fly closed out the scoring.
// 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.