WARRIORS SECURE 10-1 WIN AT UC-CLERMONT, GO 1-3 IN SERIES

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Warriors went 1-3 in their yearly trip to play Cincinnati-Clermont over the weekend, with RCU securing a 10-1 victory in the third matchup of the four-game series. After a slower first day at-bat, the Warriors got back into the swing of things on the second day, scoring 17 runs in two games. Catcher Aidan Alspaugh led RCU at-bat on the weekend, posting a slash line of .615/.706/.923 while hitting four doubles, driving in five runs, and walking four times with no strikeouts. Pitching-wise, Lance Jones was crucial in the RCU victory, throwing 6.2 innings while only allowing five hits and one run with five strikeouts.

FIRST GAME - L, 5-9 - SEVEN INNINGS

The first inning saw both teams pour in two runs each to kick off a high-scoring affair, with third baseman Lucas Bateman creating the scoring opportunity by driving a triple to right field for an RBI. RCU scored on the next at-bat, capitalizing on an error for a Cael Kuzinski run. The Cougars responded with a two-RBI single to tie the game.

The action slowed until the third inning, when both teams produced three runs apiece. It was Bateman again for the Warriors to start the inning, with a double to left field, advancing to third on the throw home. A failed pickoff attempt allowed Bateman to run home for the second score of the inning, and RCU scored again when Kuzinski ran home on a ground out. Unfortunately for RCU, that momentum was short-lived, as errors plagued the team and allowed Clermont to climb back into a tied position. 

The Warriors' bats ran cold from then on, with not much being given to the RCU batters for a chance to retake the lead. The Cougars tacked on runs in the fifth and sixth innings, with the sixth inning producing three runs for UC-Clermont. RCU couldn't recoup the losses and fell behind 9-5 by the seventh inning. 

SECOND GAME - L, 1-5 - SEVEN INNINGS

The second matchup was a much slower one offensively for RCU, with sparse scoring opportunities throughout the game. After a scoreless first inning, the Cougars struck first with a single-RBI to left field in the bottom of the second to take the lead. The Warriors remained scoreless until the fourth inning, when Bateman used some savvy baserunning to capitalize on an error by the Cougars, reaching third. Reese Ungvarsky created a fielder's choice, which pinch-runner Jayden Peterson took advantage of to score and tie the game. 

In the bottom of the fourth, UC-Clermont took the lead back with two runs. RCU was in a dangerous position with two potential runs on second and third with two outs but closed out the inning with a groundout play by Beau Falkenhagen. The Warriors remained cold from there, not being able to create any real scoring opportunities off the bat. The Cougars scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and took the game 5-1. 

THIRD GAME - W, 10-1 - SEVEN INNINGS

The bats heated up for RCU on the second day, but that wasn't readily apparent, with neither team scoring until the third inning. In the top of the third, Alspaugh recorded one of his best hits of the weekend, doubling to left field to score a run from second base. RCU's defense was holding up well throughout the first three innings, thanks to solid fielding and a pickoff by Jones to first base in the first inning. 

RCU kept a one-run lead through the fourth and fifth innings, with Jones and the Warriors forcing several groundouts to prevent Clermont from taking advantage of any hits. In the fifth inning, Jones recorded his second pickoff of the day, quick scoping a ball to first baseman Dakota Shafer for the third out of the inning. 

The sixth inning was all about the Warriors, who dominated at home plate. Starting off with two singles by Alspaugh and Brendan DeFlorio, the Warriors loaded the bases up before a Luke Jayaraman single to left field logged two RBI. Shafer took his turn hitting a single to right field, scoring another run. It was Kuzinski's moment a few at-bats later, hitting a single to first base and logging another RBI. From there, things continued to fall the Warriors' way with a wild pitch leading to a fifth run. 

The scoring didn't stop there, with Alspaugh booming another double two score two RCU baserunners. The inning would be capped off by a single from Bateman, who scored Alspaugh for nine unanswered runs by the Warriors. RCU allowed one run in the seventh inning, but things were all too out of reach for the hosts, with Kyle Butcher striking out the final Cougar batter. 

FOURTH GAME - L, 7-8 - SEVEN INNINGS

The final installment of the weekend was an exciting one, with the teams trading runs in the first inning. Alspaugh logged a sacrifice fly to score Kuzinski, who turned a single into a third-base position by stealing second and getting to third on a wild pitch. The Cougars climbed into the lead across the next three innings, scoring four runs. 

RCU stormed back into the game across the fourth and fifth innings, starting with a three-hit inning in the fourth. Bateman continued a strong weekend with an RBI single to left field before a throwing error by the Cougars led to a second RCU run. Fresh off his big hit from the last game, Jayaraman singled to center field to score Reese Ungvarsky. The fifth inning saw more big hits for RCU, beginning with a double by Donovan Galovich, followed by a booming triple from Falkenhagen. Alspaugh singled to center field on the next at-bat to reward Falkenhagen, and the inning wrapped up with a double by Bateman for a third run. 

Unfortunately for RCU, things fell apart in the sixth inning, with the Cougars scoring four runs thanks to a critical error. The Cougars were able to load the bases up and hit a clutch two RBI single with two outs to take the lead on the Warriors. The Warriors did their best to get in scoring position for the top of the seventh, but a ground-out ended RCU's hopes of recovery. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: RCU Baseball