The Cincinnati Bearcats baseball team becomes the first UC program to reach the NCAA Tournament since joining the Big 12, getting there before football and basketball, something a lot of people weren’t expecting.
This is Cincinnati’s seventh tournament appearance and first since 2019. Even more impressively, it’s their first at-large bid since 1974.
Head coach Jordan Bischel was thrilled when the Bearcats’ name popped up.
“Our guys don’t care if this thing was in Australia. They just want a chance to play and compete,” Bischel said. “It’s going to be an electric atmosphere, and we’ve got a tough first-round matchup against Wake Forest. But that’s what happens at this level. The kids put so much into this, and they deserve it.”
The Bearcats finished 32-24 overall, including a 16-14 record in Big 12 play.
NCAA Tournament Knoxville Regional Schedule
The Knoxville Regional, hosted by the defending 2024 National Champion Tennessee Volunteers, will run from May 30th to June 2nd in a double-elimination format.
Friday, May 30
- Game 1 – (2) Wake Forest vs. (3) Cincinnati – 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- Game 2 – (1) Tennessee vs. (4) Miami (OH) – 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
Saturday, May 31
- Game 3 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (TBD)
- Game 4 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (TBD)
Sunday, June 1
- Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 (TBD)
- Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4 (TBD)
Monday, June 2
- Game 7 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 (TBD)
The winner of the Knoxville Regional will advance to Super Regionals (June 6-9) and face the winner of the Fayetteville Regional. A spot in the College World Series (June 13-23, Omaha, Nebraska) will be on the line.
Injury Updates
Cincinnati has faced challenges all season, including injuries to key players.
Pitcher Adam Wkowski will be available but will need a protective mask after suffering a facial injury. Landon Midkick is day-to-day with an oblique injury.
“He’s getting better by the day, but those are tricky,” Bischel said. “I really hope he can play. He deserves a chance to shine in this setting.”
Despite setbacks, the Bearcats have fought through adversity.
“At different points, things could’ve gone off the rails,” Bischel admitted. “We lost key guys—Cross, Landon, Luke, and pitchers—but every time, we bounced back.”
A Quick Look at Friday’s Matchup
Cincinnati opens regional play against Wake Forest, a team Coach Bischel knows well.
“They don’t win on talent, they win on execution. They’re really well-coached,” Bischel said.
The Bearcats enter as underdogs, but Bischel embraces that role.
“Every time we made a run at Central Michigan, we were never the higher seed. We’re used to being the underdog, and we’ll embrace it,” he said.
Now, Cincinnati hopes to make a deep tournament run, setting a high standard for the era of “Bischell Ball” at Cincinnati.
