Needing one win to tie a school record, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats baseball team had its back against the wall at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi on Sunday, May 31.
Having beaten No. 25 Louisiana, then lost to No. 14 and Starkville Regional top seed Mississippi State, UC was in a win-or-go-home situation.
UC had an early 2-0 lead, and jumped ahead again 6-5 in the sixth, but Louisiana scored three unanswered runs from there to earn the rematch win 8-6 and end the Bearcats’ season.
UC finishes 38-22, one win shy of tying the wins record the 2008 Bearcats set with 39. Louisiana goes to 41-24 and gets the top seed, Mississippi State. They would have to beat MSU in the Sunday night game and again Monday for a regional title, as the Bulldogs came into Sunday, May 31 as the only team in the Starkville Regional without a loss.
The Ragin’ Cajuns got a 3-for-4 game from Donovan LaSalle, including a pair of home runs, driving in three runs. Shortstop Blaze Rodriguez had two hits and drove in two.
Cincinnati Bearcats have a 10-hit game, but leave Starkville Regional with single win
Big 12 First Team selection and Freshman of the Year Enzo Infelise led UC’s hitting going 3-for-5 and driving in the game’s first runs. Charlie Niehaus was 2-for-4 driving in a run and Cal Sefcik blasted his first homer of the year, a two-run shot.
Similar to last year, coach Jordan Bischel’s squad went 1-2 in the NCAA tournament, winning the opening game 12-2 against Louisiana, then falling 10-5 to Mississippi State and 8-6 in the elimination game to the Ragin’ Cajuns. Last year the Bearcats were the No. 3 seed and beat No. 2 seed Wake Forest, then lost to top seed Tennessee and in the rematch with the Demon Deacons.
Louisiana hits 4 homers vs. UC pitching
The last time that happened was in UC’s last game a year ago in the NCAA Knoxville Regional when Wake Forest slugged four in an 11-6 win to end the 2025 season for the Bearcats.
It was Connor Blue’s first pitching outing for UC since May 15
Freshman Connor Blue hadn’t pitched in a game since UC closed out the regular season against Texas Tech. They split with the Red Raiders May 15, with Blue pitching in the 8-7 win in the nightcap with a no decision.
Sixteen days later, Blue pitched into the sixth inning, finishing with 5.2 innings, eight hits, seven runs allowed, six earned, no walks and three strikeouts.
Freshman Chad Brown finished the game, going 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and a run.
Louisiana’s Mark Herrmann allowed six hits, five runs, four earned, striking out eight against the Bearcats through five innings. Tyler Papenbrock was the next man in, covering the final four frames, allowing four hits and a run and striking out four. He got the win to go to 4-0. Blue took the loss for UC to finish 4-2.
The Bearcats got two-out singles by Quinton Coats and Jack Natili in the ninth, but Papenbrock stabbed a comebacker by Infalise and raced to first for the final out.
Cincinnati Bearcats, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns scoring summary
Top 1st – A two-run double by Enzo Infelise scores Derrick Pitts and Quinton Coats for an early UC 2-0 lead.
Bottom 2nd – Drew Markle homers to center. With the bases loaded, Blaze Rodriguez hits into a fielder’s choice, scoring Donovan LaSalle to tie. Mark Collins singles in Maddox Mandino for a 3-2 Louisiana lead.
Bottom 3rd – Markle singles and goes to second on throwing error by Jackson Smith. Donovan LaSalle homers for a 5-2 lead.
Top 4th – Infelise singles and Cal Sefcik hits a two-run homer to left. UC narrows gap to 5-4.
Top 6th – Charlie Niehaus singles in Infelise to tie the game. With the bases loaded, Derrick Pitts draws a walk for a 6-5 UC lead.
Bottom 6th – LaSalle hits his second homer off Blue to tie 6-6. Rodriguez singles in Noah Lewis for the 7-6 Louisiana lead.
Bottom 7th – Colt Brown’s solo shot makes it 8-6, Louisiana.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Bearcats eliminated in Starkville Regional in Louisiana rematch
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
