Cincinnati, OH—The Cincinnati baseball hit four home runs in a 10-6 series-opening win over Tulane on Thursday afternoon in American Athletic Conference action at UC Baseball Stadium.
The Bearcats (26-24, 15-14 AAC) got homer runs from Cole Harting (9), Jace Mercer(8), Ryan Nicholson (5) and Eric Santiago (7) in the victory. Tulane (28-19, 17-7 AAC) team tied a season-high with three home runs but came up a little short.
The loss in game one of a doubleheader marked just the second time this season the Green Wave have dropped an opener in a conference twinbill this season.
Cincy took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Joe Powell smashed an RBI infield single. The catalyst of the game came later in the second inning, as Cincinnati’s Jace Mercer crushed a grand slam over the left field wall to give the Bearcats a 5-0 lead.
Junior Luis Aviles, sophomore Collin Burns and Chase Engelhard all hit home runs for Tulane. The Green Wave three amigos are all tied for the team lead with seven home runs on the year.
Braden Olthoff was on the mound for the Green Wave, but suffered the loss and fell to 5-3 for the season. Olthoff gave up eight runs and allowed 10 hits of the midday. Despite the tough start for the right-hander, he battled through the 5.0 innings.
The Green Wave clawed back two innings later with an RBI single by junior Frankie Niemann to trim it to 5-1. Cincy responded two innings later with a three-run home run by Ryan Nicholson to make the score 8-1.
Tulane would not go away quietly, as they scored one run in the sixth, one in the seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth, but the Green Wave was not able to get any closer.
As a team, the Green Wave managed 10 hits. Tulane have smashed 10-or-more hits in 22 games this season. Cincinnati was very aggressive at the plate, as they had 13 hits. Four of the Bearcats’ 13 hits went yard.
Cincinnati’s Garrett Schoenle got the win for the Bearcats and improved to 6-3 for the season.
UP NEXT
Game two of the doubleheader is currently underway. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ and listen live on the radio by tuning into WRBH 88.3 FM.
