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Cincinnati Baseball: Pitching staff struggles in second round loss to East Carolina

By Charles Post

Chase Stewart throws a pitch during the Cincinnati Bearcats game against Xavier Musketeers. Getty Images.
Chase Stewart throws a pitch during the Cincinnati Bearcats game against Xavier Musketeers. Getty Images. /
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The Bearcats were hoping to pull off an upset in the second round of the AAC Tournament on Thursday afternoon but couldn’t keep up in a 15-5 loss to top seeded East Carolina. Starting pitcher Tristan Weaver was injured and replaced in the first inning as the team fell down 4-0 and failed to keep it competitive. Following the loss, Cincinnati will take on Tulane for a second time this week as both teams face elimination on Friday.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM on ESPN+.

Cincinnati Baseball: Pitching staff struggles in second round loss to East Carolina

Despite coming into the game with a lot of momentum, the Bearcats simply couldn’t keep pace with East Carolina’s potent offensive attack. Weaver got him on the arm by a single up the middle and was clearly affected by it going forward, giving up four straight baserunners and allowing three runs before Scott Googins decided to go to the bullpen. Garrett Harker came in to replace Weaver but East Carolina took a 4-0 lead into the second inning.

Freshman infielder Kerrington Cross hit a leadoff solo shot to left field in the fourth inning but the Pirates responded to go up 8-1. Cincinnati made another push in the fifth inning when Cross, Griffin Merritt and Wyatt Stapp picked up RBI singles but East Carolina answered immediately to take a 10-5 lead before scoring five more runs in the seventh inning to secure the victory. Cross finished with one home run and two RBI, while Merritt went 1/4 with one RBI in the loss.

East Carolina has won 16 consecutive games.

Cole Harting went 2/4 at the plate with one run and one strikeout as the sophomore center fielder has a .478 batting average in his last five games for the Bearcats. Cross has improved so much this season and racked up three home runs in his last five outings. It will be important for Cross and Harting to keep having success to take some pressure off Merritt in the next round. Alex Shea was recently announced as the starter against Tulane.