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In the second matchup of the season between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers, the Bearcats got off to a great start on both sides of the ball on Tuesday afternoon facing their crosstown rival.
The starting pitching effort from lefthander Cam Alldred gave the Bearcats some time to put some runs on the board, which they would eventually need.
Alldred went six Innings and only gave up one run in his time on the mound. He struck out two batters and scattered six hits and two walks on 77 pitches during his first start of the season.
The Bearcats also brought the bats to Tuesday’s game and were able to give themselves and Alldred some breathing room with five runs in the first four innings. They would pick back up in the seventh inning with a four-run inning and would add one more in the 8th to reach their game total of 10 runs. Luke Turino, Joey Thomas and Ryan Noda would all come up big on the day with two RBI each. Thomas (3-for-4) and Turino (2-for-4) each had multi-hit games and Noda’s launched his eighth home run of the season to account for his line knock.
What could have been easy win took a turn once Alldred was pulled from action, as the Musketeers made their run at a comeback. After getting one run off of Alldred in the sixth inning, Xavier would plate four runs in the seventh and three more in the ninth before freshman Nathan Kroger finally got the last out. Despite giving up four runs, the winning pitcher on the day was Kroger who went 2 1/3 innings. Tristan Hammans only recorded two outs in relief and let up three runs.
The win made up for a 9-1 loss to Xavier during the Joe Nuxhall Classic on April 18.
Game MVP - Cam Alldred
In only his third start of his career, Alldred was stellar, silencing Xavier’s bats until they let out a squeak in the sixth inning. Alldred started in two games last season but was spiked for an 81.00 ERA across just 2⁄3 of an inning combined in those outings. Ty Neal had been slow to use Alldred in a starting role before Tuesday, but a busy week necessitated a new approach to the starting rotation. To his credit, Alldred has been working well as a pitcher after he played the field primarily a year ago. He has a 2.91 ERA across 21 2⁄3 innings (16 games) even if he has as many walks as strikeouts (15).
On Deck
The Bearcats will enjoy this win, as we all like a little Crosstown Shootout triumph, but they must refocus for a game against Western Carolina tonight at Marge Schott Stadium.