Cincinnati Claims Series with 6-2 Win vs. TCU - University of Cincinnati Athletics (2024)

CINCINNATI –The University of Cincinnati baseball team scored all six of its runs in the first two innings of Saturday's game vs. TCU, but that proved to be enough in its 6-2 victory at UC Baseball Stadium.

UC (18-13, 6-5 Big 12) clinched the series with the win and will now play for the series sweep on Sunday at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

After getting off to a slow start offensively in Friday's victory, Cincinnati wasted no time on Saturday in jumping out to the lead. A two-run first inning got things going, and then Tommy O'Connor's three-run homer in the second highlighted a four-run inning to put UC ahead, 6-0.

Tommy Boba kept the Horned Frogs (20-10, 5-9 Big 12) off the scoreboard until the sixth, when they scored two runs to make it a 6-2 game. Christian Mitchelle entered the game and proceeded to shut down TCU's bats entirely, allowing just one baserunner over the final 3.1 innings to earn the save.

O'Connor's big blast was the hit of the day for UC. Josh Hegemann drove in two runs on a first-inning double, and Lauden Brooks tallied an RBI as well. Dalton Pearson went 1-for-2 with two walks and a career-high three stolen bases, and Landyn Vidourek stole two bags as well.

Boba struck out seven in 5.2 innings of work, and Mitchelle recorded four K's in his relief appearance.

//HOW IT HAPPENED
Josh Hegemann ripped a double to deep right field in the bottom of the first that brought home Lauden Brooks and Kerrington Cross, giving UC a 2-0 lead right off the bat.

The Bearcats put up another crooked number in the second, scoring four runs to go up 6-0. Dalton Pearson and Landyn Vidourek both reached base and stole three bases combined between the two of them to put runners on second and third. Lauden Brooks hustled out an infield single on a dribbler to the third baseman, allowing Pearson to score and make it 3-0. Two pitches later, Tommy O'Connor lifted a pitch over the left field wall to bring everyone home and give Cincinnati a 6-0 advantage.

Boba's day started with five scoreless innings, and he recorded two outs in the top of the sixth before a two-run double for TCU cut the lead to 6-2. Christian Mitchelle made the short walk from shortstop to the pitcher's mound to take over and proceeded to register a three-pitch strikeout to get out of the inning.

Cincinnati didn't find the scoreboard again after the second inning, but it proved to be inconsequential. Mitchelle posted a 1-2-3 top of the seventh and a scoreless eighth before retiring the Horned Frogs in order in the ninth to secure the save, his third of the season.

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NOTE:All dates and times are subject to change due to weather. All schedule changes will be announced on Twitter at@GoBearcatsBASE.