TicketsAmerican Athletic Conference play begins for University of Cincinnati baseball this weekend as the Bearcats travel to Tampa, Florida, to take on the USF Bulls in a three-game series. Games are scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
// PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• USF sits at 11-8 in non-conference action to start the season
• Last weekend the Bulls swept Dartmouth at home, winning by scored of 7-3, 16-1 and 4-1
• They are coming off a 7-2 road loss at North Florida on Tuesday
• UC is 21-45 all-time against USF
• The two teams closed out the regular season last year in Cincinnati with the Bearcats winning the first matchup 10-7 before dropping the next two, 8-6 and 9-8
• UC's 2018 season ended with a 9-4 loss to USF in the conference tournament
• The Bulls received a bid to NCAA postseason play last year, winning one game at regionals to finish 36-22-1 on the season
// CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
• The AAC continues to be one of the top conferences in Division I baseball
• After last weekend's play, AAC teams have outscored opponents 131-77 through thirty games played
• ECU and UCF are both ranked in the national polls while UConn and UCF are ranked top-20 in RPI
• Only four other conferences (ACC, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC) have at least two schools in the top-20 RPI
• ECU was selected by the conference coaches in the preseason poll to win the title in 2019
• Houston was picked second, UConn third and UCF fourth
• USF placed fifth while Tulane, Wichita State, Cincinnati and Memphis rounded out the bottom four spots in the preseason rankings
• In five years in the AAC, the Bearcats have averaged 9.4 conference wins per season, eclipsing that average last year with a 12-12 conference record
• UC was picked ninth in the 2018 preseason coaches' poll but entered the tournament with the No. 6 seed
// STRIKING IN THE SIXTH
• UC's offense has been most effective in the sixth inning this season
• The Bearcats have scored nearly a fourth, or 16 out of their 65 runs, during the sixth inning so far this season
• On the other side, opponents have scored the most runs against UC pitching in the fourth with the second-most runs coming late in the eighth
// TICKETS AVAILABLE
• Season tickets for all home games this season are available by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX, logging on to GoBearcats.com or by visiting the ticket office located at Richard E. Lindner Center in Varsity Village
• Tickets are only $50 for adults and $30 for seniors (65 and older) and youth (aged 4-12)
• UC students receive free admission to all games with a valid ID
• Single game tickets may also be purchased for any game set to be played at Marge Schott Stadium this season
• A flex plan option is available, allowing fans to purchase ten undated vouchers for $35
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
// PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
| Friday, March 22 | Saturday, March 23 | Sunday, March 24 | |
| Cincinnati | RHP A.J. Kullman | RHP Nathan Kroger | LHP Garrett Schoenle |
| USF | RHP Collin Sullivan | RHP Alec Wisely | RHP Ben Koff |
// SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• USF sits at 11-8 in non-conference action to start the season
• Last weekend the Bulls swept Dartmouth at home, winning by scored of 7-3, 16-1 and 4-1
• They are coming off a 7-2 road loss at North Florida on Tuesday
• UC is 21-45 all-time against USF
• The two teams closed out the regular season last year in Cincinnati with the Bearcats winning the first matchup 10-7 before dropping the next two, 8-6 and 9-8
• UC's 2018 season ended with a 9-4 loss to USF in the conference tournament
• The Bulls received a bid to NCAA postseason play last year, winning one game at regionals to finish 36-22-1 on the season
// CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
• The AAC continues to be one of the top conferences in Division I baseball
• After last weekend's play, AAC teams have outscored opponents 131-77 through thirty games played
• ECU and UCF are both ranked in the national polls while UConn and UCF are ranked top-20 in RPI
• Only four other conferences (ACC, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC) have at least two schools in the top-20 RPI
• ECU was selected by the conference coaches in the preseason poll to win the title in 2019
• Houston was picked second, UConn third and UCF fourth
• USF placed fifth while Tulane, Wichita State, Cincinnati and Memphis rounded out the bottom four spots in the preseason rankings
• In five years in the AAC, the Bearcats have averaged 9.4 conference wins per season, eclipsing that average last year with a 12-12 conference record
• UC was picked ninth in the 2018 preseason coaches' poll but entered the tournament with the No. 6 seed
// STRIKING IN THE SIXTH
• UC's offense has been most effective in the sixth inning this season
• The Bearcats have scored nearly a fourth, or 16 out of their 65 runs, during the sixth inning so far this season
• On the other side, opponents have scored the most runs against UC pitching in the fourth with the second-most runs coming late in the eighth
// TICKETS AVAILABLE
• Season tickets for all home games this season are available by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX, logging on to GoBearcats.com or by visiting the ticket office located at Richard E. Lindner Center in Varsity Village
• Tickets are only $50 for adults and $30 for seniors (65 and older) and youth (aged 4-12)
• UC students receive free admission to all games with a valid ID
• Single game tickets may also be purchased for any game set to be played at Marge Schott Stadium this season
• A flex plan option is available, allowing fans to purchase ten undated vouchers for $35
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
Stay connected with Bearcats Baseball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.