CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cincinnati Bearcats used a six-run fifth inning to roll to a 10-4 victory over the Wichita State baseball team Sunday, April 28, at Marge Schott Stadium in the series finale of a three-game American Athletic Conference series.
 
Wichita State (20-23, 5-10 American) is scheduled to return home to Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field, for a midweek game against the Missouri State Bears Tuesday, April 30, at 6 p.m.
 
Senior Luke Ritter went 1-for-2 and hit his team-high eighth homer of the season, leading the Shockers at the plate, while Noah Croft and Paxton Wallace each tallied a double.
 
Junior right-hander Mitchell Walters (1-3) suffered the loss on the mound after giving up four earned runs and two unearned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in one inning of work.
 
The Shockers jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Jordan Boyer scampered home from third on a fielder's choice off the bat of Hunter Gibson in the top of the first.
 
Wichita State increased its advantage to 2-0 in the top of the second after Croft scored from second base on a Cincinnati throwing error, but the Bearcats (22-22, 11-7 American) responded in the bottom-half of the frame, plating a pair of runs on a two-run single, knotting the contest, 2-2.
 
The stalemate didn't last long though, as Ritter crushed a one-out, solo homer high over the left field wall in the top of the third, putting WSU back in front, 3-2.
 
Cincinnati tied the contest, 3-3, with a run in the bottom of the fourth, before regaining the lead for good after its six-run fifth inning.  
 
Jace Mercer went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI, leading the Bearcats offensively.
 
Reliever Nick Murray (3-1) picked up the victory for Cincinnati after allowing an earned run on three hits with one strikeout and no walks in six innings.