Cincinnati Set for Early-Season Test vs. No. 9 Auburn
CINCINNATI - It’s still early February, but the University of Cincinnati baseball team is about to find out exactly where it stands. The Bearcats are heading into a marquee matchup on Tuesday night, traveling to face No.
9 Auburn at Plainsman Park. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.
ET, streaming on SEC Network+.
This is the first ranked opponent on UC’s schedule, and it comes right after both teams opened the season with series wins. Cincinnati took two of three on the road at Jacksonville State, while Auburn swept Youngstown State at home - a solid start for both squads, but now the stakes get higher.
Bearcats Flash Aggressive Identity in Opening Series
Cincinnati wasted no time showing off its style of play in the opener. The Bearcats beat Jacksonville State 11-5 on Friday, fueled by a relentless offensive approach that leaned heavily on pressure and execution.
We’re talking 15 combined walks and hit-by-pitches, seven stolen bases, and a pair of bunt hits - a classic case of manufacturing runs and forcing the defense to make plays. That’s the kind of identity that can wear down opponents over nine innings.
Saturday’s 6-5 win was a tighter affair, but it came with some pop. Quinton Coats and Jackson Smith both went deep, and when things got dicey in the ninth, Adam Buczkowski came up clutch. With two outs and runners on second and third, he struck out the Gamecocks’ cleanup hitter to lock down the win - a big early-season moment for the Bearcats’ bullpen.
Sunday’s finale was a different story. Despite plenty of traffic on the basepaths - the two teams combined to leave 21 runners stranded - UC couldn’t cash in. Jacksonville State managed the game’s only run on a solo homer in the second inning, handing Cincinnati its first loss of the year, 1-0.
Youth Movement in Full Swing
One of the biggest storylines from opening weekend? The youth movement is real. Five true freshmen saw meaningful action right out of the gate, and several made strong first impressions.
Enzo Infelise got the nod at designated hitter in games one and three, while Joe DuSell and Jackson Reardon started in left field and at third base, respectively. On the mound, freshman arms Connor Blue and Chad Brown each delivered multi-inning, scoreless outings in relief on Sunday - exactly the kind of early poise coaches love to see.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Tyranski also made his debut, starting in left field on both Friday and Sunday. It’s clear this coaching staff isn’t afraid to trust its young talent, and early returns suggest that confidence is well-placed.
Scouting No. 9 Auburn
Auburn enters the matchup ranked No. 9 in the nation, and for good reason. The Tigers went 41-20 last season and hosted a Super Regional before falling to eventual national runner-up Coastal Carolina. This is a program that expects to be in the postseason conversation every year - and they’ve got the roster to back it up.
Second baseman Chris Rembert is the headliner. A Preseason First Team All-American, Rembert is one of the top middle infielders in the country and a name to watch come MLB Draft season.
Auburn opened its season with two tight 2-1 wins over Youngstown State before unleashing the bats in a 17-2 blowout in game three. That mix of pitching depth and offensive firepower is what makes the Tigers so dangerous - and what makes Tuesday night such a big opportunity for Cincinnati.
What’s Next
After facing Auburn, the Bearcats will wrap up their season-opening road trip with a four-game set at UAB from Feb. 19-22. Then it’s back home for the first time in 2026, with the home opener scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24 against Bowling Green at 4:00 p.m.
That game kicks off a 10-game homestand that includes matchups with Austin Peay (Feb. 27-March 1), Western Kentucky (March 3), UC San Diego (March 5-8), and Evansville (March 10).
But before any of that, UC gets a shot at a top-10 team on the road - a chance to make an early statement and see how its young roster stacks up against elite competition.