In a back-and-forth game May 31 in the NCAA Regional in Starkville, Mississippi, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats baseball team was unable to win a rematch with Louisiana, losing 8-6.
The No. 24 Bearcats had defeated the No. 25 Ragin’ Cajuns 12-2 a couple of days before, then lost to the top seed and host Mississippi State (No. 14 in the country) 10-5.
Amplifying the quality of the home team from Starkville at Dudy Noble Field, after Louisiana nipped UC, they were ambushed in the second game of the day by the Bulldogs of the SEC, 19-5.
While not one for participation ribbons, the fact that UC head coach Jordan Bischel has taken the Bearcats to back-to-back NCAA Regionals, in Starkville and Knoxville, is a sign the program is on the rise.
Vision of UC Bearcats baseball coach Jordan Bischel
After the loss to end their season, “Bischel ball” has gone 32-25 (17-13 Big 12) in 2024, 33-26 (16-14) and 38-22 (17-13). They were one win away from the school record of 39 set in 2008, and the school had never been in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments.
“Three years ago, we were picked last in this league (Big 12),” Bischel said. “We’ve won 16 or more league games every year. I think it’s just us and West Virginia that have done that. It’s really hard to do. It’s really hard to sustain success. Not just in our league; you look around the country and half of the (College) World Series (from 2025) didn’t get here.”
Bischel says the success will continue and they’ll rely on being gritty and tough. He thinks he can keep players from walking away with fame and fortune at bigger schools. For his efforts last season, Bischel was given a contract extension keeping him a Bearcat through 2031.
“Three years ago, we had to sell a vision that Cincinnati belonged in the Big 12,” he said. “There’s no question about it now.”
Bischel credited UC director of athletics John Cunningham and Dr. Joe Luckey, team administrator, plus the staff and players for making baseball a priority.
Now, out of eight all-time NCAA Tournament appearances, two have come on Bischel’s watch. Ed Jucker, who won back-to-back NCAA basketball titles at UC, took the Bearcats to their first NCAA baseball appearance in 1956. Glenn Sample took UC squads in 1961, 1967, 1971 and 1974, and Scott Googins took the 2019 Bearcats to the Corvallis Regional in 2019.
UC head coach Jordan Bischel had Central Michigan mentor
Dave Keilitz was the head baseball coach and later athletic director at Central Michigan, Bischel’s last stop before the Bearcats. Bischel says those around college baseball have him on the proverbial “Mount Rushmore,” and he describes him as his “absolute mentor.”
Working for Keilitz, Bischel had plenty of NCAA Regional experience. In 2019, he took the Chippewas to Starkville and beat the Miami Hurricanes before falling to the host Bulldogs. In 2021, Central Michigan made the final in South Bend by eliminating Michigan and Connecticut. In 2022, they lost to the host Florida Gators in Gainesville, defeated Liberty in 12 innings, and then lost to the Gators in the ninth inning.
“I promised him (Keilitz) that I wouldn’t leave Mount Pleasant, Michigan, unless it were a place that could go to Omaha (College World Series),” Bischel said. “That’s where this place will go at some point. I really believe that. If we don’t, we’re going to die trying.”
Cincinnati Bearcats were young in 2026
Bischel mentioned they started six freshmen and sophomores. Going down the batting order in Starkville, outfielder Ryan Tyranski was a redshirt freshman, outfielder Derrick Pitts a sophomore, first baseman Quinton Coats a sophomore, designated hitter Enzo Infelise a freshman, second baseman Jackson Smith a sophomore and shortstop Charlie Niehaus a redshirt sophomore. Outfielder Conlan Daniel also started 40 games as a sophomore, and Jackson Reardon started 20. UC’s pitchers in the final game, Connor Blue and Chad Brown, were both freshmen.
“I’m really excited for the future of this team, especially with some of the younger guys,” junior outfielder Cal Sefcik said.
Said Bischel, “We’re doing it different. I’m not saying everybody else is doing it wrong, but we’ve got a blueprint for how we want to do it and we’re just getting that blueprint going. There’s not a better place on planet Earth to live than in Cincinnati. I just can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
How to keep prominent Cincinnati Bearcats out of transfer portal
According to Bischel, they had the fewest number of players among Big 12 teams in the transfer portal last season. and the second-least among Power Four schools. Making All-Big 12 honors this season was Quinton Coats, a Dick Howser award semifinalist, Big 12 Freshman of the Year Infelise, Buster Posey award semifinalist Jack Natilia, outfielder Tyranski and pitchers Nathan Taylor and Adam Buczkowski. Derrick Pitts arguably belonged in that category and was a favorite of the TV broadcasters during the Starkville Regional with his play.
Natili and Taylor will turn pro, but the rest could secure offers to take their services to a higher bidder.
“We want what’s best for those guys,” Bischel said. “I want Derrick and Quinton and Enzo and every guy in our program to be wherever they’re going to be the happiest. Hopefully, they think that’s Cincinnati. I don’t think dollar signs are going to change that for them.”
Bischel says if there’s another place that would make them happier, he would help them get in the portal and get there.
“I think they know how special our program is, and I think they’ll be wearing Cincinnati uniforms next year,” he said.
MLB draft awaits two Cincinnati Bearcats
“Jack (Natili) and Nate (Taylor) are going to be high draft picks and play big league baseball at some point,” Bischel said.
Last year, UC saw Big 12 Player of the Year Kerrington Cross and Badin High School product Landyn Vidourek get drafted in the seventh and third rounds, respectively. Two years ago, Josh Kross was picked in the sixth round.
A Perfect Game listing of the top 400 prospects for this year’s MLB draft, posted in late April, had catcher Natili and No. 1 pitcher Taylor listed at No. 82 and No. 95, respectively. MLB.com’s prospect rankings have Natili at No. 87, which would put him in the third-round category.
The MLB draft is July 11-12 in Philadelphia as part of the MLB All-Star weekend.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats baseball coach Bischel predicts more NCAA bids
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
