BEARCATS POUND OUT 17 HITS, BEAT LAMAR 16-6

Dax Goff hit a two run home run in the first inning and the Bearcats went on to build a 6-1 lead and appeared to be in full control in Lamar Thursday.

However, four errors, a couple hit batters, and two walks in the span of two innings opened a door for the Warriors to erase the Bearcat lead but the Bearcats scored 10 runs in their next two at bats to take a 16-6 win in six innings.

The Bearcats pounded out 17 hits.

Freshman Jace Washburn had allowed one run in the first two innings, which scored on a passed ball, before he hit the leadoff batter in the third.

An error got the next Warrior aboard but Washburn got the next two on strikes and had a chance to get out of the inning.

Another error cut the lead to 6-3.

Washburn hit another hitter with two down in the third before an error and a triple made it 6-5 and yet another error tied the game.

Washburn, who allowed only three hits and was not charged with an earned run, gave way to Matt O’Bar, who induced a soft line drive to Brooks Herrera to end the inning.

Herrera also singled with one down in the top of the fifth to start what would be a six run inning. He scored on a double by Rylen Ray (3-for-5) to put the Bearcats back in front – though the scoreboard had the Bearcats in front 7-6 when the inning began.

With two down Peyton Tatum (3-for-5, shown) singled home a run, O’Bar (3-for-3) singled softly to left and a single by Dunn Daniel made it 9-6. Daniel drove in three on the day.

Blazen Jones singled to right for a run and Lamar contributed an inning prolonging error to allow Cam Osborne to reach and two to score for a 12-6 edge.

After O’Bar (1-0) worked a perfect fifth, Herrera started the sixth with a double. He swiped third and scored on a ground ball by Ray – his third RBI of the day— to make it 13-6.

Goff and Tatum singled and O’Bar was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Daniel who reached on an error – Lamar committed six – while two runs scored. Osborne grounded out for his second RBI – he had a sacrifice fly in the third – and it was 16-6.

O’Bar walked a pair in the Lamar sixth but got out of it without damage – the scoreboard read 18-6.

The Bearcats will play their third game in three days when they face Charleston today at 4:30 and will then be idle through spring break, returning on March 29 against Danville.