Cincy on the Prowl
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Cincinnati Baseball: Bearcats fall to Tulane in AAC Tournament elimination round

By Charles Post

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - MAY 22: A general view inside the sold out Baum-Walker Stadium during a game between the Florida Gators and the Arkansas Razorbacks on May 22, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators to sweep the series 9-2. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - MAY 22: A general view inside the sold out Baum-Walker Stadium during a game between the Florida Gators and the Arkansas Razorbacks on May 22, 2021 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Gators to sweep the series 9-2. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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After taking down Tulane in the first round of the AAC Tournament on Tuesday, it looked like the Bearcats might be able to make a run but the season came to a close on Friday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida. Tulane got revenge with a 13-5 win over Cincinnati to advance to the conference semifinals.

Sophomore left hander Alex Shea started on the mound for the Bearcats and quickly allowed three runs in the top of the first inning. Tulane extended the lead to 9-0 with runs in each of the first four innings before Ryan Nicholson got Cincinnati on the scoreboard with a 2-run shot to right field.


Cincinnati Baseball: Bearcats fall to Tulane in AAC Tournament elimination round

Senior Dondrae Bremner capped his Bearcats career with a 2-run pinch hit homer of his own in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 9-4. Cincinnati threatened to score more but failed to convert with baserunners on and the Green Wave took advantage with a leadoff home run in the eighth inning. Tulane freshman right fielder Teo Banks hit for the first cycle in AAC Tournament history in the win.

Andrew Neff came out of the Bearcats bullpen and allowed a homer to right field as Tulane tacked on a few more runs to seal the victory. Cincinnati showed some fight this week with an 8-1 win over Tulane in the opening round but they couldn’t keep the momentum going any further.

Nicholson went 3/4 with a double, home run and three RBI, while Griffin Merritt struggled in the season-ending loss but racked up five runs and six RBI in the tournament including two homers in the first round blowout over Tulane. The Bearcats finish with a 24-31 record but have a lot of talent returning with next season set to start in February.