Bearcats Power Past UAB with Home Run Barrage
In a thrilling display of power hitting, the University of Cincinnati baseball team launched three home runs to secure an 8-4 victory over UAB on Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama. The Bearcats' bats were on fire, with sophomore Quinton Coats, junior Jack Natili, and freshman Jackson Reardon each sending one out of the park.
Coats was the standout, delivering a grand slam-his third homer of the season and the first grand slam for the Bearcats since Kerrington Cross achieved the feat last year. This pivotal moment came in the second inning, breaking open the game and giving Cincinnati a commanding lead.
Junior pitcher Dominic Mauro shone on the mound, earning the win with a stellar performance in his third outing of the year. He tossed three scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just three baserunners, showcasing his ability to control the game from the mound.
Cincinnati's offensive prowess was particularly evident with two outs, as six of their eight runs and six of their ten hits came in these clutch situations. Coats had an impressive day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple and the grand slam, marking his second consecutive game with a homer. Natili also contributed significantly, going 3-for-5 and driving in two runs.
Redshirt senior Adam Brouwer added to the pitching effort, striking out three over four innings in his second start as a Bearcat. Freshman Connor Blue closed out the game, pitching the final two innings to seal the victory.
Game Highlights:
- Coats kicked off the scoring with an 11-pitch at-bat that resulted in his first career triple, setting up Natili’s RBI single for an early 1-0 lead.
- UAB quickly responded with a solo homer to tie the game at 1-1.
- In the second inning, Coats delivered a grand slam after Conlan Daniel, Jackson Smith, and Derrick Pitts drew two-out walks, pushing the Bearcats ahead 5-1.
- UAB's Austin Pierzynski narrowed the gap with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second.
- The Bearcats extended their lead with back-to-back homers in the fifth and sixth innings from Natili and Reardon, respectively, making it 8-3.
- Mauro's dominance on the mound kept UAB at bay, striking out the last batter he faced in the seventh.
- Although UAB added a run in the eighth, the Bearcats' lead was never truly threatened.
Cincinnati will look to continue their winning ways as they wrap up the four-game series against UAB on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET. With their bats heating up and pitching solidifying, the Bearcats are poised for another strong performance.