Sophomore outfielder Cole Harting and redshirt junior outfielder Griffin Merritt each collected four hits to help lead the Cincinnati Bearcats past the Saint Joseph's Hawks, 18-9, at UC Baseball Stadium on Sunday. The win gives the Bearcats the series victory and puts them on a three-game win-streak.

Freshman pitcher Garrett Harker (1-1) got the win for Cincinnati (9-10). The right-hander went 5.1 innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on seven hits, allowing three walks and striking out four. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Alex Shea also pitched one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out one.

In addition to his four hits, Harting had a home run and four RBIs to lead the Bearcats. Merritt added a double, a home run and two RBIs to his four-hit performance. Redshirt freshman infielder Kerrington Cross hit Cincinnati's third homer of the game, ending the day 1-for-4 with a long ball, a walk, and two RBIs. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats got the scoring started early, as they put up seven runs in the first inning. The first eight batters reached base safely and the Saint Joseph's starter never recorded an out.

The Hawks scored one, narrowing the lead to 7-1, until the Bearcats expanded their advantage in the second. Cincinnati picked up three runs, including one driven in on a home run by Merritt, which brought the score to 10-1 in favor of the Bearcats.

Cincinnati held Saint Joseph's without a run before expanding their lead to 15-1 the following inning. The Bearcats bats heated up in the inning, scoring five runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Harting.

The Hawks fought back, closing the gap to 15-6 until Cincinnati added some insurance in the seventh. The Bearcats scored twice on back-to-back home runs from Harting and Cross, bringing the Cincinnati advantage to 17-6.

Saint Joseph's got within 17-9 until the Bearcats scored again in the eighth inning to stretch its lead to 18-9. Redshirt sophomore infielder Kameron Guidry came across to score the lone run of the inning for Cincinnati. The score remained 18-9 for the rest of the game, as the Bearcats coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Harting led the Bearcats at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs.
» The 18 runs today marked a new season high for UC. It's the most runs the Bearcats have scored since they scored 22 against Xavier on March 20, 2021.
» Merritt hit his AAC-leading eighth home run of the season on a no-doubter in the second inning. 
» Harting and Merritt both had four hits today, which is the first time it's been done by a Bearcat since redshirt junior outfielder Paul Komistek did it on Feb. 19, against Florida Gulf Coast earlier this season.
» Every Cincinnati starter reached base safely by the third inning in the win.
» Harker earned his first collegiate win today. It was also his third-straight game going more than five innings. 
» Cincinnati grabbed a 7-0 lead in the first inning. The first eight batters reached base safely to start the game.
» Five Bearcats had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Harting and Cross hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning. The last time a pair of UC players did that was on Feb. 19 against Florida Gulf Coast when Komistek and redshirt sophomore infielder Ryan Nicholson did it in the second inning. Cross has hit two home runs in the past three days.
» Redshirt freshman infielder Sean Springer hit a double into left field in his first-career collegiate at-bat.