HOUSTON – Senior catcher
Erik Voller dropped a single down the rightfield line, scoring sophomore pinch runner
Hayden Baker from second with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as HBU edged Cincinnati, 2-1, in non-conference baseball Saturday afternoon at Husky Field.
Junior first baseman
Johnny Gonzales led off the ninth with a single to center, then Baker came on to pinch run. Junior rightfielder
Brandon Bena laid down a sacrifice bunt to set up Voller's walk-off heroics.
Gonzales went 2-for-4 and junior leftfielder
Ryne Edmondson doubled for the Huskies (4-2). Senior shortstop
Derek Reilly drove in the other run for HBU.
Junior righthander
Kyle Gruller allowed an unearned run on three hits, struck out 11 and walked two in a no-decision. Junior righthander
Jacob Coats (3-1) picked up another win out of the bullpen, shutting out the Bearcats (0-5) and allowing only a walk over the final two innings.
Joey Wiemer went 2-for-4 and scored the lone run for Cincinnati, while Joey Bellini had the only other hit for the Bearcats.
Evan Shawver (0-20 took the loss, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 2.1 innings of relief. Nathan Kroger took a no-decision, giving up one run on three hits with four strikeouts and four walks in six innings.
Bena was hit by a pitch with one out in the second, then Edmondson followed with a double down the rightfield line. Voller drew a walk to load the bases, then Kroger walked Reilly to force in a run. Senior designated hitter
Anthony Jones grounded into a double play as the Huskies settled for a 1-0 lead. Jones would later single in the fifth to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Wyatt Stapp walked to lead off the seventh, then Wiemer reached on a bunt single and a throwing error allowed the runners to move to second and third with no outs. Gruller struck out AJ Bumpass, then Bellini hit a hard ground ball to third and Stapp was cut down at home plate for the second out. Bellini left first early to try to get caught in a run down, but Gonzales's throw to second went into leftfield, allowing Wiemer to score the tying run.
The series concludes with a 1 p.m. start Sunday. The Husky Sports Network broadcast with
Russ Reneau will be available at youtube.com/hbuhuskies.
