JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — The Cincinnati Bearcats opened their 2026 season with an offensive barrage, capitalizing on early control and a steady stream of Jacksonville State mistakes to secure an 11-5 victory over the Gamecocks on Friday at Rudy Abbott Field.

Cincinnati’s offense was relentless from the second inning onward, amassing nine hits and taking advantage of seven walks and four hit batters issued by a struggling Jacksonville State pitching staff. The Bearcats also ran aggressively, stealing five bases.

The most pivotal sequence of the game came in the top of the third inning, which broke a scoreless tie wide open and set the tone for the remainder of the contest. After Derrick Pitts singled home Enzo Infelise for the game’s first run, the Bearcats loaded the bases against Gamecocks starter Sam Cash and his reliever, Tyler Waldron. Christian Daniel’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0 before shortstop Charlie Niehaus delivered the decisive blow. Niehaus laced a two-run double to left-center field, clearing the bases and extending the Cincinnati lead to 4-0. The inning continued with a hit batter and a stolen base before Jacksonville State could record the third out, showcasing Cincinnati’s persistent pressure.

That third-inning outburst was merely the beginning. Cincinnati added two more runs in the fourth inning, aided by a Jacksonville State throwing error, and single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to build an 8-0 advantage. Pitts was a catalyst throughout, finishing with three hits, three runs scored, two RBIs and three stolen bases. Niehaus drove in two runs, while Daniel contributed two RBIs, including a triple.

Jacksonville State, held to just six hits, did not get on the board until capitalizing on Cincinnati’s lone defensive miscue in the fourth. An error by first baseman Quinton Coats allowed two unearned runs to score, and a wild pitch brought in a third, cutting the deficit to 8-3. The Gamecocks mounted their most serious threat in the eighth inning, stringing together three hits, including an RBI double by pinch-hitter Ethan Williams and an RBI groundout by Trey King, to pull within 8-5.

Cincinnati responded immediately in the top of the ninth, however, as a fielding error by Jacksonville State first baseman Sam Richardson opened the door. The Bearcats pushed across three unearned runs to re-establish a comfortable six-run cushion, effectively sealing the game. Reliever Drew Mauro then worked a perfect bottom of the ninth, striking out two, to close out the win.

Five Jacksonville State pitchers combined to issue 11 free passes between walks and hit batters. The Gamecocks also committed three errors, leading to five unearned Cincinnati runs. Bearcats starter Nate Taylor earned the win with three-plus innings of scoreless work, while Sam Cash took the loss for Jacksonville State.

With the victory, Cincinnati begins its season 1-0, while Jacksonville State starts 0-1. The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Cincinnati entered the game with a 56.40 percent probability to win.