TicketsBIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Cincinnati baseball team began its series at UAB on Thursday and dropped the opener by a score of 12-11.
Both teams now own a record of 3-2 on the young season.
It was a wild game that saw both teams combine to score 11 runs over the final two innings. UC took the lead with a three-run top of the eighth to go up 9-6, but the Blazers trimmed their deficit to one, 9-8, with two in the bottom half of the eighth. Cincinnati scored twice in the top of the ninth to put the score at 11-8, but a four-run bottom of the ninth flipped the script and gave UAB a 12-11 victory. The winning runs scored on Mark Price’s three-run, walk-off home run.
Cincinnati matched its season-high run total with 11. Freshman Enzo Infelise recorded his second consecutive three-hit game, and sophomore Derrick Pitts joined him by logging three hits. Redshirt freshman Ryan Tyranski drove in a career-high three runs and sophomore Quinton Coats blasted a three-run home run in the eighth, his second of the year. At the top of the order, sophomore Jackson Smith and redshirt sophomore Charlie Niehaus both had two stolen bases apiece.
Smith reached base five times, four of which came via a free base (two walks, two HBP) and he had a hit as well. He has now been plunked five times this year.
Junior Nathan Taylor made the start and struck out four in four innings of work. Four other pitchers saw time on the mound, with freshman Chad Brown striking out two in 1.2 scoreless innings. He was the long UC pitcher to end his outing unscathed.
Cincinnati and UAB will face off again on Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UAB struck first with a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead.
- The Bearcats loaded the bases in the top of the third, but an inning-ending double play got the Blazers out of the inning unscathed.
- A sacrifice bunt attempt in the bottom of the fourth turned into two runs for UAB and put UC in a 4-2 hole.
- Jack Natili sparked a three-run top of the fifth by ripping an RBI double off the wall in left field. Enzo Infelise tied the game at 4-4, then Derrick Pitts drove in the go-ahead run to put the Bearcats up 5-4.
- A two-run home run for UAB’s Brady Waugh gave his team a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
- Tyranski brought in the tying run on a fielder’s choice in the seventh, then Quinton Coats blasted a three-run home run in the top of the eighth to give Cincinnati a 9-6 lead.
- Not to be outdone, UAB’s Baylor Roberts hit a two-run homer in the next half inning to make it a one-run game.
- Cincinnati two runs in the ninth on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch to make it 11-8.
- The Blazers drew a keadoff walk and followed with a double and a sacrifice fly to make it 11-9. After another walk, UAB’s Max Price hit a three-run, walk-off home run to end the game.
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