Kansas Drops Series Opener at Cincinnati

Friday, March 27

Cincinnati, Ohio

4 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

16-10, 4-3

Cincinnati

20--8, 4-3

Kansas

Cincinnati

Kansas Drops Series Opener at Cincinnati

3/27/2026 7:43:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Statistics Conference Statistics

CINCINNATI – Kansas baseball was defeated 5-0 by Cincinnati on Friday evening at UC Baseball Stadium. The Jayhawks were shutout for the first time this season.

Boede Rahe was called upon for his first career start at Kansas on Friday. Rahe had a solid start as he worked through the Cincinnati lineup twice in 4.2 innings and allowed only one run.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The first three innings of the game were scoreless for both sides.
• Cincinnati (20-8, 4-3 Big 12) was able to strike first with a run in the fourth inning. A two-out RBI single by Enzo Infelise gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead.
• In the sixth inning, Cincinnati extended its lead with an RBI triple off the bat of Jack Natili and a sacrifice fly from Cal Sefcik. That made it a 3-0 Cincinnati advantage.
• The Bearcats added two more runs in the eighth inning. Natili hit a solo home run and a second run scored on a throwing error. The stretched the game to 5-0 where it ultimately ended.

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Nathan Taylor (3-1)
Final line: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 9 SO
Loss: Boede Rahe (4-1)
Final line: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 3 SO
Save: Dominic Mauro (4)
Final line: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO

QUOTABLES & NOTABLES
"I thought Boede did a really nice job of keeping us in it. We felt really good, even at 3-0, with the way that we continued to get some traffic on the bases, but we had a couple really unfortunate and uncharacteristic baserunning mistakes. Then, they were able to make some really big pitches in some key times to get double plays. I thought we competed hard and I loved the belief in the dugout. I have no doubt that we'll be ready to hop out tomorrow, but you have to play really clean baseball in the Big 12. I think sometimes you look at the error column and think that's what clean baseball means. The reality is that there's an efficiency to baseball in terms of not hitting into double plays and not running into outs that you don't have to give away." – Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald

• Kansas moved to 16-10 overall on the season and 4-3 in Big 12 play.
• Kansas hit into five double plays.
• Kansas was shutout for the first time since March 18, 2025 at Arizona.
• Rahe made his first career start at Kansas.
• Cade Baldridge matched his Kansas career high with three hits (March 6 vs. St. Thomas).

UP NEXT
Kansas and Cincinnati will play the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.