Cincinnati heads into the Knoxville Regional with an opportunity to make history, earning their first at-large bid since 1974 and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019. With the double-elimination format, an opening-game win would put them in an advantageous position, avoiding an early elimination game on Saturday afternoon against Tennessee/Miami (OH).
Now, let’s look at some ways this group can get things rolling at 1:00 PM ET on Friday against Wake Forest.
Play “Bischel Ball”
The Bearcats thrive on speed and creating havoc on the basepath, stealing 128 bases so far, outpacing Wake Forest’s 70 stolen bases. Their style relies on creating chaos by bunting, and with Wake Forest’s questionable infield defense, Cincinnati will look to exploit those weaknesses.
The biggest concern for Wake Forest defensively is Marek Houston, their standout shortstop and projected first-round pick at #18. While a dynamic offensive player (.351, 12 HR, 19 SB), Houston has committed 12 errors this season, making him a key target for UC’s pressure-driven offense. If UC can put the ball in play and challenge Wake’s infield, errors could translate into more baserunners, leading to more runs.
Projected Pitching Matchup: Nathan Taylor vs. Blake Morningstar
Cincinnati will likely turn to Nathan Taylor, who holds a 3.67 ERA over 81 innings, striking out 84 batters. His ability to induce ground balls will be essential to keeping Wake’s power-heavy lineup in check.
With the double-elimination format, UC cannot afford to tax the bullpen early. Ideally, starters hopefully can pitch 6-7 innings to keep arms fresh for later. If Taylor can go deep into Friday’s game, it will set Cincinnati up for a stronger run through the regional.
Out of the bullpen, Brandon Scheuer, Chase Horst, Michael Conte, & Adam Buczkowski will be huge for the Bearcats, and not taxing them early could go a long way to making a Super-Regional next weekend.
Lindsey Nelson Stadium is hitter-friendly, with 320-foot fences down the lines and 390 feet to center. The smaller dimensions make home runs more common, especially with strong power-hitting teams like Wake Forest. UC’s pitchers will need to keep the ball low and work for groundouts to limit Wake’s ability to take advantage of the ballpark.
Wake Forest will counter with Blake Morningstar, their ace right-hander, who owns a 2.71 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts). His mix of five pitches, blending off-speed movement with power, makes him tough to beat. UC’s approach needs to be disciplined, forcing long at-bats and putting balls in play to put pressure on Wake’s infield defense.
Players to Watch (Cincinnati)
- Kerrington Cross (Big 12 Player of the Year, 3B) – The leader of UC’s offense, hitting .399 with 12 home runs and 15 stolen bases.
- Jackson Natili (C) – A steady bat and defensive anchor behind the plate, hitting .340 with 9 home runs and 50 RBIs.
- Landyn Vidourek (OF, Questionable with Oblique Injury) – A game-changer when healthy, Vidourek has 14 home runs and 37 stolen bases, but his status remains uncertain.
Players to Watch (Wake Forest)
- Marek Houston (SS, Projected #18 Draft Pick) – A force at the plate (.351, 12 HR, 19 SB) but a liability defensively, leading Wake’s infield with 12 errors.
- Jack Winnay (IF, Wake’s RBI Leader) – Winnay leads the team with 59 RBIs, complementing his .296 batting average and 14 home runs.
- Kade Lewis (IF) – A huge part of Wake’s lineup, batting .392 with 16 doubles and 11 home runs.
Game Details
📅 Friday, May 30: Game 1 – (2) Wake Forest vs. (3) Cincinnati 🕐 1 p.m. ET 📺 ESPN+
Note: I will be at the regional this weekend with live updates on my Twitter (@Mbuhrmann61). Make sure to stay tuned there and on the Goal Cincinnati website for recaps with post-game interviews.
