Cincinnati Bearcats square off with host Tennessee in NCAA Knoxville Regional Saturday

KNOXVILLE, TN –The University of Cincinnati Bearcats baseball trip near the Smoky Mountains could be their most memorable trip ever to the NCAA tournament.

After downing Wake Forest 11-6 thanks to two-run homers by Quinton Coats, Derrick Pitts and Donovan Ford and a workhorse effort by starting pitcher Nathan Taylor, UC players had to wait to see their opponent for the following night.

As expected, it will be the host and top seed of the Knoxville Regional, the Tennessee Volunteers. After the Miami RedHawks briefly knotted the game 1-1 early in the third, the Volunteers chipped away and eventually pulled away for the 9-2 victory. Vols ace Liam Doyle had 11 strikeouts in 6.2 innings.

UC and Tennessee are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. with the game televised on ESPN+.

Cincinnati Bearcats, Tennessee Vols pitchers

UC goes with lefty Kellen O'Conner, the California State-Bakersfield transfer who has gone 3-2 with a 4.68 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 65.1 innings. O'Connor recently has pitched out of the bullpen with multiple saves.

Tennessee rolls out junior righty Marcus Phillips who is 3-4 with a 3.64 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 71.2 innings.

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers

As former pro wrestler Ric Flair was known to say, "To be the man, you've got to beat the man" and now UC has that chance. (Coincidentally the WWE was in nearby Thompson-Boling Arena Friday.)

Tennessee came into Friday's game with Miami at No. 12 in the DI Baseball RPI. UC's win over Wake Forest moved them to No. 31. The Volunteers are the defending national champions.

Griffin Merritt played four seasons for the Cincinnati Bearcats, then a grad year at Tennessee where he went to the College World Series in 2023. A talented and popular player at both places, he planned to remain neutral, but knows there is a difference in SEC baseball being played in a town without a major league team.

"It's different baseball," Merritt said. "The fans will see it this weekend. These fans, I wouldn't say they care more than UC fans, but there's a lot more of them. They expect to win."

Cincinnati Bearcats history with Tennessee

The teams have played 27 times with the Volunteers winning 22 of those. The squads last played in 2018 when Tennessee came to UC Baseball Stadium and swept the Bearcats 3-2 (12), 7-5 and 2-1.

The Bearcats have defeated Tennessee in Knoxville before, winning 2-1 on March 10, 2017. Pitchers Andrew Zellner and David Orndorff combined on the pitching effort. Connor McVey and Jace Mercer completed a double steal in the fifth inning with Mercer racing home for the go-ahead run. McVey also homered in the game.

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello smiles as he approaches the mound to take pitcher Liam Doyle out of the game against the Miami RedHawks. Tennessee won 9-2 to advance to play the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday night.

Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello on Cincinnati Bearcats

Vitello mentioned in the Tennessee press conference the noise he heard from his office during the Cincinnati Bearcats game with Wake Forest. Vitiello's pitching coach Josh Reynolds worked for Jordan Bischel at UC last year so Vitello has some knowledge of how the Bearcats have advanced.

"He's won everywhere he's been despite not having the resources that others with a little more favorable circumstances," Vitello said. "A part of it is what he likes to do with the numbers and implement a very specific style of baseball. They've got a little extra stuff going on energy-wise and team camaraderie-wise in the dugout. They were able to beat another outstanding team from a phenomenal league by using exactly the brand of baseball he's tried to stamp on any program he's been a part of."

UC head coach Jordan Bischel on Tennessee

Bischel talked of the possibility of playing the men in orange and feels UC's schedule has the Bearcats up for the challenge.

"That's pretty fun!" he said. "One of the top programs in the country, coach (Tony) Vitello one of the best coaches in the country and one of the best environments in the country. If we have that matchup, we'll take it and run with it."

Wish granted. Saturday at 6 p.m. "Cheer Cincinnati" meets "Rocky Top". It's a double-elimination tournament, so both teams play Sunday either way.