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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A.J. Bumpass drove in the game-winning run with an RBI triple in the top of the ninth, as Cincinnati rallied for a 7-6 win at the No. 16 national seed and defending NCAA Baseball Champion Oregon State to advance to the winners bracket in the Corvallis Regional on Friday night. Cincinnati, which earned its first NCAA tournament bid since 1974, will take on Michigan at 10 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN3.
UConn was also in action on opening day of the NCAA tournament, as the Huskies surged for 19 hits but fell 8-5 to Nebraska in the first game of the Oklahoma City Regional. UConn will play an elimination game against Harvard on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. ECU’s tournament opener was postponed due to inclement weather at the Greenville Regional, as the Pirates will continue their road to Omaha at home Saturday at 4 p.m. ET against Quinnipiac.
Cincinnati Recap | Box Score
WP: Moore (4-0)
LP: Mulholland (3-3)
Highlights
The Bearcats secured their first NCAA tournament win since 1971 and became the fifth American team to defeat an NCAA regional host. A.J. Bumpass continued to shine at the plate, as the senior outfielder went 5-for-5 with three RBIs, a home run and a triple to pace the Bearcats’ offense. Bumpass is hitting .737 (14-for-19) with 10 RBIs, eight runs scored, three home runs and two triples over his past five games. Five Cincinnati batters had multiple hits in the contest, as the Bearcats totaled 15 on the night.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 3-1 advantage through the first three innings with RBIs from Bumpass, Joey Wiemer and Jace Mercer. Cincinnati, which owns a conference-best .978 fielding percentage, used a pair of diving plays in the outfield to prevent early damage. Jeremy Johnson dove to catch a line drive at the warning track in the bottom of the first before Wiemer left an Oregon State base runner stranded at third with an impressive diving grab in left field to end the second inning.
The Bearcats increased their lead to 5-2 in the sixth frame with a no-doubter solo home run to rightfield from Bumpass, followed by an RBI double from Eric Santiago. Cincinnati held the lead until the bottom of the seventh when Oregon State rallied for four runs to jump in front 6-5. The Bearcats were quick to respond, as Joey Bellini drove in Mason DeAnna on a fielder’s choice play to tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the eighth. After Mercer collected his third hit of the night, Bumpass brought him home with his American-leading sixth triple of the year to give the Bearcats the lead for good. Cincinnati closer Korren Thompson shut the door with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half of the ninth to clinch his 13th save of the season.
Nathan Moore tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in relief and picked up his fourth win of the season. Cincinnati starter Clayton Colvin tossed 6.0 innings, scattering two earned runs on a six hits, while fanning a pair of Oregon State batters.
UConn Recap | Box Score
WP: Palkert (6-3)
LP: Feole (3-4)
Highlights
UConn pounded out a season-high 19 hits, including six for extra bases, but the Huskies took an 8-5 loss to Nebraska in the opening game of the NCAA Oklahoma City Regional. UConn looks to survive an elimination game against Harvard Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN3.
Seven Huskies turned in a multi-hit performance, led by John Toppa and Pat Winkel who each went 4-for-5. Both teams left 10 base runners stranded, as the Huskers turned four double plays in the ballgame. UConn jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the first two innings with Winkel sending a two-run shot over the rightfield wall. Nebraska then tacked on four runs in the third to take the lead for good. UConn starter Mason Feole (3-4) struck out eight through 5.0 innings becoming the Huskies’ all-time strikeouts leader, but the junior southpaw was tabbed with the loss after giving up seven runs on eight hits. Relief pitcher Robbie Palkert (6-3) picked up the win on the mound for Nebraska, while Colby Gomes earned his 13th save of the year.
Thirty-one (31) Division I conferences received automatic bids in the field of 64, along with 33 at-large selections. The regional format for the NCAA Championship is a double-elimination with the winning 16 teams advancing to Super Regionals, which will be held from June 7-10. The top eight teams remaining will host the Super Regionals on-campus in a best-of-three series with the eight winners advancing to Omaha. The College World Series begins play Saturday, June 15 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.
2019 NCAA Baseball Championship
Greenville Regional | Greenville, N.C.
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 3 Campbell vs. No. 2 NC State.................Postponed
Game 2: No. 4 Quinnipiac at No. 1 ECU..........................Postponed
Saturday, June 1
Game 1: No. 3 Campbell vs. No. 2 NC State.................Noon (ESPN3)
Game 2: No. 4 Quinnipiac at No. 1 ECU..........................4 p.m. (ESPN3)
*** Remainder of regional schedule will be announced Saturday following the conclusion of the Pirates’ and Bobcats’ contest ***
Corvallis Regional | Corvallis, Ore.
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 3 Michigan 6, No. 2 Creighton 0
Game 2: No. 4 Cincinnati 7, No. 1 Oregon State 6
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: No. 2 Creighton vs. No.1 Oregon State.....................4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 4: No. 4 Cincinnati vs. No. 3 Michigan..................... 10 p.m. (ESPN3)
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Elimination Game.....................3 p.m. (TBD)
Game 6: Regional Final..................... 9 p.m. (TBD)
Monday, June 3
Game 7: If Necessary Game..................... 10 p.m. (TBD)
Oklahoma City Regional | Oklahoma City, Okla.
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 3 Nebraska 8, No. 2 UConn 5
Game 2: No. 1 Oklahoma State 2, Harvard 0
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: No. 4 Harvard vs. No. 2 UConn.....................2 p.m. (ESPN3)
Game 4: No. 3 Nebraska at No. 1 Oklahoma State..................... 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Elimination Game.....................1 p.m. (TBD)
Game 6: Regional Final..................... 6 p.m. (TBD)
Monday, June 3
Game 7: If Necessary Game..................... 7 p.m. (TBD)
All times Eastern