Wichita State edged Cincinnati in the series opener

CINCINNATI The University of Cincinnati baseball team defeated Wichita State 2-1 in its conference opener on Friday at UC Baseball Stadium.

The Bearcats were limited to one run on two hits and stranded four runners in the loss.

Redshirt junior start Chase Hopewell (1-2) allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four with two walks in six quality innings. Redshirt junior Alex Shea came out of the bullpen and went two shutout innings allowing two hits and striking out a pair. Senior Assistant Mitch White recorded his 100th career hit in the ninth inning.

Redshirt junior Cole Harting hit his fifth homer of the season in the fifth inning to score the Bearcats’ lone run of the game.

//HOW DID IT HAPPEN

Cincinnati fell behind when Wichita State scored one run on two hits in the top of the first inning. WSU’s Clark Candiotti retired the first 12 batters he faced. The Shockers scored another run in the top of the fifth to make it 2-1.

Harting broke through for the Bearcats in the home half of the frame. He smashed the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to lead off the inning. The solo homer was his fifth of the year.

In the top of the sixth, Lauden Brooks delivered a two-run double down the left field line. Ryan Nicholson a walk followed, but the Bearcats stranded a pair.

Shea went two shutout innings while White pitched a scoreless ninth to keep the score within a run. Cincinnati was unable to take advantage of the stretch, falling 2-1.

//NEXT

Cincinnati and Wichita State play the middle game of the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.