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 inning, 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 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.
“Two Top 25 teams that played really good baseball,” UC head coach Jordan Bischel said. “I challenged our guys to go out there and attack the strike zone and be tough outs with two strikes. We did both of those things. We had two true freshmen (pitchers) with zero walks in eight innings. Losing stinks, but if you’re going to go out, that’s how you go out.”
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.
“I’ve been blessed to play in three of these things,” Sefcik said. “Losing never gets any easier. They played better than us. You’ve just got to tip the cap and move on.”
Similar to last year, coach 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 the rematch with the Demon Deacons.
“We’re going to keep playing in these games,” Bischel said. “Dave Keilitz (former Central Michigan coach) my absolute mentor. I promised him I would not leave Mount Pleasant, Michigan, unless it was a place that could go to Omaha (College World Series) that’s where this place will go at some point. If we don’t, we’re going to die trying.”
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.
“They hit four balls out of the yard and that’s a team that typically doesn’t hit a lot of home runs,” Bischel said. “Would we have liked to have worked the edges a little better and keep another ball or two in the yard? Absolutely. If we play Louisiana 10 times, we’re both going to get a bunch of wins. The other day was our day, today was their day.”
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.
“He was throwing a bowling ball sinker,” Sefcik said of lefty reliever Papenbrock. “It was tough to get the barrel to it.”
Jordan Bischel address transfer portal for UC players
The Bearcats were loaded with youth with Christian Mitchelle being the only senior starter (non-pitcher). Quinton Coats, Enzo Infelise, Ryan Tyranski, Derrick Pitts and others could have offers elsewhere just as future MLB draftees Nathan Taylor and Jack Natili had.
“I want them to be wherever they’re going to be the happiest,” Bischel said. “I believe they think that’s Cincinnati. I don’t think the dollar signs are going to change that for them. If there is a place where they can be happy, I will help them get into the portal and get to those places. I think they know that. I think they know how special our program is and I think those guys will be wearing Cincinnati uniforms next year.”
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
