UC baseball appears to be recovering from a bad start to the sport



The University of Cincinnati baseball team defeated Oakland University 18-0 in their home game at Marge Schott Stadium in Cincinnati on Friday, February 28, 2020.



The University of Cincinnati (UC) baseball team is heading to the Carolinas this weekend to play a four-game series against the University of North Carolina’s Wilmington Seahawks (UNCW). The series begins on March 4th at 4pm and can be viewed on the Seahawk Digital Network.

The two teams made contrasting starts in the 2021 season. The Bearcats come into the set with a 1-5 record, while the Seahawks have a score of 5-1.

After UC fell five times in a row earlier this year, UC came back on track last Saturday with an 11-3 win over Western Kentucky University. The Bearcats struggled in tight games as their five losses resulted from eleven combined runs, two of which came in additional innings.

UC will have its hands full with the Seahawks. UNCW comes into the matchup with glowing bats and publishes a batting average of 0.281, while the average is over six runs per game. On the other hand, the Bearcats bats struggled early on and achieved a team batting average of 0.222.

Here are some names that you should see during the series:

Evan Shawver SP (UC)

UC’s left-handed ace was dominant this season. In 10 innings of work, Shawver has not yet resulted in a run. Shawver has kept his opponents averaging 0.156 while scoring eleven hits. The top prospect will try to continue his run of form.

Joey Bellini SS (UC)

After Bellini led the Bearcats with .429 in the shortened 2020 season, he started exactly where he left off. Graduate transfers have proven to be a quality stick at the top of the lineup, averaging 0.370. Bellini was solid as a shortstop too, handling 18 chances without a mistake.

Griffin Merritt LF (UC)

The junior outfielder has been UC’s best power bat to date, leading the team on base percentage, slugging percentage, batted-in and on-base plus slugging. He also ranks second in doubles, overall base and batting average.

Brooks Baldwin OF (UNCW)

The Seahawks lead-off hitter got off to a hot start to the 2021 campaign and scored a base hit in all six games. Baldwin leads the UNCW in runs, hits, triples, home runs, batted in, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging.

Hunter Hodges RP (UNCW)

Hodges had an outstanding presence in his three Seahawk bullpen appearances this year. In 5.2 innings, Hodges has only allowed one hit while scoring seven hits. With a walk and hits per inning of 0.53 and a batting average of 0.056, Hodges will be one of head coach Randy Hood’s best assistants.

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