Championship Central
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Wyatt Stapp went 3-for-4 and Mitch Holding drove in three runs to lead Cincinnati to an 8-4 win against Tulane Thursday night in the American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship presented by Air Force Reserve at Spectrum Field.
The win sends No. 2-seeded Cincinnati (28-29) to the semifinal round of the American Athletic Conference Championship for the first time. The Bearcats, who had been 0-10 all-time in the tournament prior to their two wins this year, will play Saturday against either UCF or Tulane for a chance to reach Sunday’s championship final. Tulane, the No. 3 seed, moves into an elimination game against UCF Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati’s bullpen worked 5.0 scoreless innings as Nathan Moore tossed 2.2 shutout frames before Korren Thompson finished the game with a season-long 2.1 innings for his 11th save of the year. Moore was credited with the win, improving to 3-0.
The Bearcats broke open what had been a 1-1 game with three runs in both the third and fourth innings. Holding’s fourth home run of the season was a deep two-run shot to left that gave Cincinnati a 4-1 lead, while Joey Bellini delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-1. Stapp followed with a base hit to left to bring Bellini in and give the Bearcats a 7-1 advantage.
The Green Wave got back in it in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of two walks, a hit batsman and an error to bring three runs across with only one hit. Sal Gozzo, who had led off with a single, came around to score on a fielder’s choice before Jonathon Artigues was drilled with the bases loaded to force another run across. David Bedgood drove in Kody Hoese with a sacrifice fly to bring Tulane within three at 7-4.
Tulane’s best chance to pull even came in the top of the seventh inning. After two quick outs, the Green Wave was able to load the bases on a base hit and a pair of walks. But Thompson got pinch hitter Kobi Owen to strike out swinging and strand the runners.
The Green Wave again threatened with two outs in the eighth as back-to-back singles by Koese and Hudson Haskin brought the tying run to the on-deck circle. But Thompson came up with another clutch strikeout, getting Grant Mathews looking to end the inning.
Stapp led all hitters at the plate, while the Bearcats’ AJ Bumpass went 2-for-3, reaching base in seven straight plate appearances in the tournament before he was retired in the eighth. Tulane was led by Trevor Jensen, who went 2-for-3 and was the only Green Wave player with multiple hits.
2019 American Athletic Conference Baseball Championship
Spectrum Field · Clearwater, Fla.
Tuesday, May 21
Game 1: No. 4 UConn 4, No. 5 Houston 3
Game 2: No. 8 Wichita State 6, No. 1 ECU 2
Game 3: No. 2 Cincinnati 11, No. 7 Memphis 6
Game 4: No. 3 Tulane 5, No. 6 UCF 2
Wednesday, May 22
Game 5: ECU 13, Houston 2 (Houston eliminated)
Game 6: UCF 8, Memphis 7 (10 innings) (Memphis eliminated)
Thursday, May 23
Game 7: UConn 9, Wichita State 7
Game 8: Cincinnati 8, Tulane 4
Friday, May 24 | American Digital Network
Game 9: ECU vs. Wichita State | 3 p.m. ET
Game 10: Tulane vs. UCF | 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 25 | American Digital Network
Game 11: UConn vs. Winner of Game 9 | 10 a.m. ET
Game 12: Cincinnati vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes following Game 11
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 (if necessary) | TBD
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 (if necessary) | TBD
Sunday, May 26 | Championship | ESPNews
Game 15: Semifinal winners | Noon ET