Summary
Cincinnati jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with back-to-back solo home runs to the same spot over the right-field fence to take a 2-0 lead.
The Bearcats increased their lead in the top of the second inning with two more runs on two hits and a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 4-0.
BYU struck back in the bottom of the frame with a Jones walk, followed by a Keoni Painter single into shallow centerfield that sent Jones to third. Ryker Schow then hit a double into right centerfield that scored Jones and Painter and cut into the Bearcat lead 4-2.
Cincinnati tacked on two more runs in the top of the third inning and added one more in the fourth to increase its lead to 7-2. A solo home run by Jones in the bottom half of the inning brought the Cougars within 7-3 through four complete.
Ryder Robinson scored the only run of the fifth inning with a solo home run over the right-center wall to pull within three, 7-4.
After Gray retired his seventh Bearcat batter in a row in the top of the sixth inning, the Cougars came alive at the plate. Matt Hansen, Painter and Tualau Wolfgramm each singled to load the bases with two outs. Luke Anderson then singled to right center, scoring Hansen and Wolfgramm. Ezra McNaughton doubled deep into right field, scoring both Wolfgramm and Anderson for the Cougars first lead of the game at 8-7.
BYU took the lead for good on Jones’ second home run of the night, this one deep in the left field corner that scored Hansen and gave the Cougars a 10-7 cushion
Cincinnati punched back in the eighth scoring two runs on a single to centerfield that cut the BYU lead to 10-9. Johnson came on in the ninth and struck out the last two batters to preserve the win and give BYU the series sweep.
Up Next
BYU heads to St. George on Tuesday, March 17 to face Utah Tech at 6:05 p.m. MT. The game can be heard live on BYUradio.org and the BYU Radio app with Matt Baiamonte on the call. It will also be broadcast on ESPN+.
