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UC Bearcats baseball wins vs. No. 21 UCF but loses ejected OF Pitts
TL;DR
The Cincinnati Bearcats baseball team defeated No. 21 UCF 11-9 in Orlando, winning the series. Jack Natili hit three home runs, while Derrick Pitts contributed a crucial go-ahead homer before being ejected.
Key points
- Cincinnati Bearcats won 11-9 against No. 21 UCF
- Jack Natili hit three home runs in the game
- Derrick Pitts hit the go-ahead homer before being ejected
- Quinton Coats tied UC's single-season home run record
- Adam Buczkowski had eight strikeouts in relief
John Euliano ParkCincinnati BearcatsUCFJack Natili
On Sunday, April 19, in the rubber game in Orlando, the Cincinnati Bearcats won the series over No. 21 UCF, taking an 11-9 slugfest at John Euliano Park.
In the game, Jack Natili had his second three-home run outing of the year, Derrick Pitts knocked the go-ahead dinger in the ninth and Quinton Coats tied UC's single-season record for round-trippers with his 23rd.
Adam Buczkowski went the final 3 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts as UC's record improves to 27-15.
Cincinnati Bearcats baseball got three home runs from designated hitter Jack Natili (7) to beat No. 21 UCF 11-9 April 20 in Orlando.
The win moved the Bearcats to No. 3 in the Big 12 baseball power rankings behind Kansas and West Virginia.
Downside of Cincinnati Bearcats baseball win over No. 21 UCF
The ninth inning summed up a chippy series: Pitts, who sent the game-winner over the right-center wall, was ejected after releasing his bat a few feet in the direction of the Knights' first-base dugout. Natili followed with his third homer, and after engagements from the umpire rounding third, was challenged by UCF if he touched the bag, which was upheld.
The Pitts ejection will force the Bearcats to play minus the outfielder in their Tuesday, April 21, game at Wright State by NCAA rule.
Cincinnati Bearcats baseball power play
Natili, along with Coats, previously homered three times against Utah on March 21. He now has 13 round-trippers following nine last season and five for Rutgers his 2024 freshman season.
Coats is now tied with Mike Spina (2009) with 23 home runs. Buczkowski, who on Tuesday pitched a season-high 3 1/3 innings to earn the win against rival Xavier, upped the ante with another season-high in innings, as well as a career-high in strikeouts (previously five against Kansas State in 2025).
Q&A
What was the final score of the Cincinnati Bearcats vs. UCF baseball game?
The final score was 11-9 in favor of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Who hit the go-ahead home run for the Bearcats against UCF?
Derrick Pitts hit the go-ahead home run in the ninth inning.
How many home runs did Jack Natili hit in the game against UCF?
Jack Natili hit three home runs during the game.