STATISTICS
Sunday, April 28 Results:
Highlights:
Four of Sunday’s five American Athletic Conference baseball games came down to the final run. Both of The American’s Sunshine State teams walked off to clinch a conference series, while Cincinnati completed a weekend sweep of Wichita State. Tulane outlasted No. 11 ECU 9-8 in a series finale battle between the top two teams in the conference.
Cincinnati 10, Wichita State 4
Cincinnati remains in the sole third-place spot in American standings with a 10-4 Sunday win over Wichita State to complete a series sweep of the Shockers. Cincinnati scored six in the fifth inning on the way to victory. After a slow start to the year, the Bearcats have clawed their way back to .500 with a 22-22 overall record. Cincinnati’s Nick Murray was solid through 6.0 innings in relief, giving up just one run and three hits while walking none. He earned his third win of the season. Jace Mercer had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs. A.J. Bumpass went 2-for-3 with two runs score and two RBIs.
Sam Houston State 6, UConn 5
UConn fell via a two-run walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth against Sam Houston State on Sunday afternoon, 6-5. Hunter Hearn hit the game-winning two-run home run off UConn closer Jake Wallace with no outs and a runner on first in the ninth. In a 2-2 game in the fifth inning, Mike Woodworth lined an RBI single into center to give UConn the lead. Woodworth also showed his base running skills, breaking a 3-3 tie in the seventh after advancing around the bases on a walk, an error and two wild pitches. The Huskies got an RBI single from David Langer to reclaim the lead at 5-4 in the eighth before the Bearkats walked off in the ninth to secure the rubber-game win and take the series.
Tulane 9, No. 11 ECU 8
Tulane scored nine runs over the course of four innings to battle back from a five-run deficit, as the Green Wave held off a late ECU comeback in a 9-8 series finale win. The Green Wave remains locked in second place in American standings with a 9-5 conference record, while the Pirates continue to lead The American at 13-2. Tulane combined to strand five ECU base runners over the final two innings to hold on for the win. Offensively, Tulane was paced by freshman Hudson Haskin who became the fifth player this season to earn five hits in a game, going 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs. His homer was a two-run shot in the seventh, which brought home the game-winning run. Acy Owen earned a career-high three hits and drove in three. ECU’s Alec Burleson drove in five, including a three-run home run that brought the Pirates to within one in the seventh.
USF 4, Houston 3
Alex Bello blasted a two-run homer over the right field wall in the bottom of the ninth, as USF walked off in a 4-3 win to capture the series against Houston Sunday. Eight Bulls had a hit, while Kyle Phillips (2-for-3) and Julio Cortez (2-for-4) led the offense with multi-hit showings. USF starter Alec Wisely tossed 6.2 shutout innings, scattering six hits and two walks while fanning five Cougars. USF was the first to score, taking a 2-0 lead with a run scored in both the fourth and fifth innings. Houston briefly took the lead in the eighth, scoring twice on throwing errors and moving one across on a fielder’s choice play. The bottom of the order led Houston at the plate, as Kyle Lovelace and Brad Burckel each had a pair of hits. Houston starter Ryan Randel pitched 4.0 innings, striking out six, while surrendering two runs on eight hits and a walk.
UCF 7, Memphis 6
Jay Lyons drove in the game-winning run, as UCF walked off 7-6 against Memphis to capture Game 3 and clinch the series Sunday. Lyons finished the day with three hits, while Matthew Mika went 3-for-3 with three runs scored. UCF starter Jordan Spicer fanned four through 6.0 innings of work, while Jaylyn Whitehead closed the door in the ninth to earn the win. After jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings, Memphis didn’t score again until tying the game in the seventh with a two-run RBI double from Colton Neel. He ended the game with three RBIs and two hits. Ben Brooks led seven Tigers with hits, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Memphis starter Alex Hicks tossed 6.0 innings, scattering three runs on six hits and two walks. He had five punch outs during his outing.