STARKVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — Jack Natili homered three times and drove in five runs as Cincinnati defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 12-2 on Friday, May 29, 2026, in a playoff game at Dudy Noble Field, Polk-DeMent Stadium.

The Bearcats (38-20) pounded out 14 hits, while the Ragin’ Cajuns (38-24) managed five. Nathan Taylor pitched six innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs with three strikeouts for Cincinnati. JR Tollett took the loss for Louisiana-Lafayette, surrendering three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Natili’s first homer came in the second inning. He added a two-run shot in the fifth and another two-run homer in the eighth. Enzo Infelise hit a two-run homer, Charlie Niehaus added a two-run homer, and Christian Mitchelle and Ryan Tyranski also contributed to the offensive outburst. Cincinnati scored six runs in the fourth inning to take control. Louisiana-Lafayette scored two unearned runs in the first inning but was held scoreless until the seventh.