An eight-run second inning set the tone early in Cincinnati's 19-8 win vs. Akron at UC Baseball Stadium on Wednesday.

The 19 runs constitute a season-high total for the Bearcats, who have now reached double-digits in five games this season.
 
Once again, UC did an excellent job manufacturing runs on offense. In addition to drawing 11 walks while striking out only four times, the Bearcats stole a season-high seven bases.
 
Josh Hegemann had an outstanding game, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, tying his career highs in hits and RBI. Josh Kross, the reigning Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Week, started this week with a 3-for-5 day that included a two-run home run, his fourth of the year. Kerrington Cross went 3-for-4 and walked twice, and he tied a career-high with four runs scored.
 
Cross, Pearson, and Tommy O'Connor all extended their on-base streaks as well. O'Connor's streak now stands at 28 games dating back to last season, while Cross (23) and Pearson's (21) streaks pushed further into the 20's.
 
Dalton Pearson and Luke Sefcik both had two-hit days at the plate, and Pearson and Alec Jones drove in two runs apiece as well. All nine starters scored at least once against the Zips.
 
Eight different pitchers saw time on the mound. Brenden Garula got the start and struck out four in 2.1 innings. Carson Marsh struck out three in 1.2 innings of work, his single-game high for punchouts.
 
// HOW IT HAPPENED
Akron led off the game with a solo home run, but it wouldn't hold the lead for much longer.
 
Cincinnati's offense exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the second, batting around to grab a sizable lead. UC sent 13 hitters to the plate in the second, but more impressively scored six of its eight runs with two outs.
 
Josh Hegemann led off the inning with a double and later scored on a bases-loaded walk, and an RBI fielder's choice in the next at-bat gave Cincinnati a 2-1 lead. Tommy O'Connor's two-out single brought home Landyn Vidourek to make it 3-1 and two batters later Josh Kross drove in two more on a single into left field. Hegemann's second double of the inning brought home two more runs and Luke Sefcik capped the scoring with an RBI base hit into center field.
 
The Zips added another run in the top of the third to make it 8-2, but three straight RBI singles for the Bearcats in the bottom half of the inning put the score at 11-2. Kerrington Cross poked an RBI single through the right side and Kross and Hegemann followed with run-scoring base hits of their own.
 
Akron scored two more on a two-run single in the top of the fifth, but the Bearcats got those runs back plus another one an inning later. In the bottom of the sixth, Alec Jones was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Sefcik scored on a double play to bring home the first two runs. Dalton Pearson's RBI single into the gap in left-center field brought the third run home and gave UC a 14-4 advantage. The lead grew to 15-4 in the bottom of the seventh after Cross scored on a wild pitch.
 
Akron plated four runs in the top of the eighth, but the Bearcats matched their total in the bottom of the eighth. Pearson doubled home a run to make it 16-8, and Cross' base hit up the middle brought Pearson home to put the score at 17-8. With two outs and Cross standing at first base, Kross launched a two-run home run to left field that provided an emphatic ending to Cincinnati's offensive outburst.
 
// NEXT UP
Cincinnati heads to Kansas State for a three-game series this weekend, its first Big 12 series since joining the conference. The series opener is set for Friday, March 8 at 7 PM ET.