While working 3 a.m. shifts, UC engineer wowed baseball's Big 12

Spectrum News profiled a University of Cincinnati graduate who made a name for himself on the field as baseball's Big 12 Player of the Year.

Kerrington Cross was a four-time All-American while playing for the Bearcats.

He also earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science. He took advantage of UC's co-op program to work for L'Oreal's 24-hour manufacturing site in Florence, Ky., which offered flexible hours to accommodate his demanding baseball schedule of practices, workouts and team meetings.

In UC's co-op program, students divide the year between full-time coursework and full-time employment in their chosen field.

Spectrum news caught up to Cross while he was cleaning out his UC baseball locker.

Cross told Spectrum News he was convinced to come to UC after visiting campus with his mom five years ago.

“You could tell toward the end of his time here he wanted to leave a lasting mark as a guy who made a difference in our program and our university,“ UC Head Coach Jordan Bischel told Spectrum.

Cross was born in Hawaii and grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, which has produced Major League Baseball talent in Tucker Barnhart, Lance Lynn and Drew Storen.

Cross hopes to continue that baseball legacy. The Major League Baseball draft is this weekend. Update: Cross was drafted in the seventh round by the San Diego Padres.

“It is a dream, but at the same time it's what I've always wanted to do, and I don't want to just settle on hearing my name called,“ Cross told the Indianapolis Star. “I want to make it all the way and give it my all until I'm done.“

Watch the Spectrum News profile.

Featured image at top: UC graduate Kerrington Cross earned success in baseball and engineering. Photo/UC Athletics