This evening, the Bearcats (20-24, 8-7 AAC) welcomed in No. 14th ranked East Carolina (31-14, 9-8 AAC) to UC Baseball Stadium for game one of three game series. The Bearcats enter today riding a four-game winning streak after completing a three-game sweep over South Florida last weekend. The Pirates on the other hand have lost 6 of their last 8 as they have struggled mightily on the road this season just 5-9 on the road compared to 26-4 at home.
Garrett Harker (0-5) went 4IPs, 5H, 4R, 3ER,2K’s
Tommy O’Conner went 1-4 with a HR and 2RBI’s
Cole Harting went 2-4 with an RBI
Josh Hegemann would go 2-2 with 2 walks on the afternoon
Sophomore pitcher Garrett Harker wasted no time finding his zone early after retiring the first two batters he faced. Then all of a sudden the Pirates bats woke up following a 2-out double from East Carolina’s Josh Moylon. The Pirates would strike first after Luke Nowak ripped a bases clearing triple to the right center gap giving the Pirates the first runs of the afternoon as they lead the Bearcats 2-0 after one. The Pirates would extend their lead in the top of the second following a leadoff triple from Alec Makarewicz who would get driven in by Jacob Starling on a routine ground ball that took a tricky hop on Griffin Hugus resulting in an error.
The Bearcats would strike back as Josh Hegemann laced a 1-out triple to right center field as the Bearcats bats would start to heat up. Cole Harting ripped a 1-out RBI single to make this a 3-1 game with just one out in the bottom of the second as the Bearcats were looking to avenge the Pirates early start. Tommy O’Connor would tie this game after launching a monster 2-run homerun to deep right field to tie this game at 3.
The Pirates would regain their lead in the top of the fourth following a solo shot by Alec Makarewicz. The Bearcats would call to the ‘pen as Chase Horst would come on in relief of Garrett Harker in the top of the 5th, in a 4-3 game. However, the Pirates would keep the bats hot and put up three insurance runs in the top of the 5th after Luke Nowak laced his second triple of the game to kick off the top of the 5th inning.
The Pirates were just too much for the Bearcats here this afternoon as they extended their lead to 9-3 in the top of the ninth following an RBI single from Ryley Johnson, who would then come around to score on a bunt single later in the inning.
The Bearcats would look to make a 9th inning comeback like we have seen before multiple times throughout the season, but the Pirates would eventually hold on and defeat the Bearcats 9-3 in game one of the three game series.
Next up
The Bearcats will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm for Game 2 of the three game series with the Pirates
Probable pitching matchups
Redshirt junior Chase Hopewell (2-4) will get the ball for the Bearcats.
Junior Josh Grosz (4-2) will get the start for the Pirates.
