TicketsARLINGTON, Texas – The University of Cincinnati baseball team's stay at the 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship ended on Thursday with a 10-3 loss vs. No. 1 seed West Virginia at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The loss puts UC's overall record at 32-24. Cincinnati now turns its attention to the NCAA Baseball Tournament selection show, which is set for Monday, May 26 at noon on ESPN2. Regional play begins next weekend, Friday, May 30.
The Bearcats took an early lead on Thursday vs. the Big 12 Regular Season Champions, but WVU scored five in the fourth and put up crooked numbers in the sixth and seventh to build an insurmountable advantage.
The star at the plate for UC was sophomore Jack Natili, who went 4-for-4 and was a triple shy of the cycle. Natili homered and had two doubles, and raised his batting average to .340 on the season. His three extra-base hits are a career-best total.
Junior Christian Mitchelle had the only other extra-base hit for UC, a double, and senior Tommy O'Connor's two-hit day included a bunt single.
Seven different pitchers saw time on the mound. Sophomore Carson Marsh made the start and struck out six in three innings, tying his career-high in punchouts.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats started off hot, scoring a run in the top of the first to take an early lead. Kerrington Cross walked to lead off the game, then scored on Jack Natili's double that rattled around the left field corner to make it 1-0.
West Virginia nearly tied the game in the bottom of the first, putting a runner on third with one out, but Carson Marsh struck out the final two hitters of the inning to preserve the lead.
The Mountaineers' bats woke up in the fourth as they batted around and scored five runs to take a 5-1 lead. UC got two of those runs back in the top of the fifth, an inning that was highlighted by Natili's solo homer.
West Virginia wasn't done yet, however, scoring three in the sixth and two more in the seventh to extend its least to 10-3. That would hold as the final score.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The loss puts UC's overall record at 32-24. Cincinnati now turns its attention to the NCAA Baseball Tournament selection show, which is set for Monday, May 26 at noon on ESPN2. Regional play begins next weekend, Friday, May 30.
The Bearcats took an early lead on Thursday vs. the Big 12 Regular Season Champions, but WVU scored five in the fourth and put up crooked numbers in the sixth and seventh to build an insurmountable advantage.
The star at the plate for UC was sophomore Jack Natili, who went 4-for-4 and was a triple shy of the cycle. Natili homered and had two doubles, and raised his batting average to .340 on the season. His three extra-base hits are a career-best total.
Junior Christian Mitchelle had the only other extra-base hit for UC, a double, and senior Tommy O'Connor's two-hit day included a bunt single.
Seven different pitchers saw time on the mound. Sophomore Carson Marsh made the start and struck out six in three innings, tying his career-high in punchouts.
// HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearcats started off hot, scoring a run in the top of the first to take an early lead. Kerrington Cross walked to lead off the game, then scored on Jack Natili's double that rattled around the left field corner to make it 1-0.
West Virginia nearly tied the game in the bottom of the first, putting a runner on third with one out, but Carson Marsh struck out the final two hitters of the inning to preserve the lead.
The Mountaineers' bats woke up in the fourth as they batted around and scored five runs to take a 5-1 lead. UC got two of those runs back in the top of the fifth, an inning that was highlighted by Natili's solo homer.
West Virginia wasn't done yet, however, scoring three in the sixth and two more in the seventh to extend its least to 10-3. That would hold as the final score.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For up-to-the-minute updates, follow @GoBearcatsBASE on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.