Guide to Spring Sports at the University of Cincinnati: 2022-23 Season Recap and Upcoming Highlights

As fall and winter sports end and spring begins, Bearcat fans may be looking for other sports to cheer on. Luckily, spring sports are right around the corner. Here is a guide to spring sports at the University of Cincinnati (UC) with a 2022-23 season recap and highlights, and what to know about the upcoming season.

Baseball

In their 2023 season, the UC baseball team was 24-33 overall. The Bearcats went 13-13 for home games and 15-11 for away games. In their 2023 home opener, the Bearcats lost to the Miami RedHawks 15-12.

Recently, the program had five student-athletes highlighted as top prospects and impact freshmen. Two Bearcats were named in the Big 12 conference prospect ranking for the upcoming 2024 MLB Draft. Tommy O’Conner ranked No. 33, and Eastern Michigan transfer Josh Cross at No. 38.

Selected for the 2025 MLB Draft rankings, Christian Mitchelle ranked at No. 19, and Griffin Hugus came in at No. 28. Selected as D1 Baseball’s No. 23 pick for the impact freshman list is right-handed pitcher Nathan Taylor. The program also had two players make their 2023 professional debuts in the major league: Ryan Noda and Joey Wiemer.

For the 2024 season, the Bearcats are playing 56 games: 30 against Big 12 opponents, 10 of which made an NCAA regional appearance last season.

Some Big 12 Conference home games fans should attend are March 15-17 when the Bearcats play Kansas ranked No. 5 on the 2023 standings list. Other important games to note are April 5-7, the Red and Black play No. 4 TCU, No. 3 West Virginia and No. 7 Oklahoma.

The Bearcats will have their first home game of the season on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. in UC’s baseball stadium.

Women’s lacrosse

Women’s lacrosse had a record of 11-7 overall in their 2023 season. The Lady Bearcats went 7-1 for home games and 4-5 for away games. In their home opener, the Bearcats secured a win against Kent State 14-7. According to the league, three Bearcats were named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team: Camryn Callaghan, Ava Goeller and Dani Mlkvy.

Callaghan ranked No. 5 in the AAC for free position goals, while Goeller and Mlkvy earned this achievement for the second year in a row. Goeller is ranked fourth in the AAC for goals per game. Mlkvy’s 6.33 draws per game led the AAC, No. 18 in the nation.

The Lady Bearcats have nine home games, all of which are free for students. Games to anticipate include when the Bearcats will also host No. 6 James Madison at Nippert Stadium on Mar. 23.

The Bearcats 2024 home opener will be against No. 12 Michigan on Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. in Nippert Stadium.

Track and Field

In their indoor season at the Hoosier Open, the Bearcats recorded 11 all-time individual top-10 marks and seven event wins. Throughout their indoor season, the Bearcats recorded multiple all-time top-10 marks and won four or more events at each meet.

During the 2023 American Athletic Conference (AAC) indoor track and field championships, the men’s track and field team won their first AAC indoor title. This was the team’s first indoor conference title since 1995, and their first indoor or outdoor title since 2004.

In their outdoor season opener at the Ole Miss Classic, the Bearcats won four individual events. The Red and Black would continue to compete in their outdoor season, and three Bearcats competed in the USATF U20 Track and Field Championships.

Although their outdoor schedule is not yet released, some names to look for this season are Fred Moudani-Likibi, who qualified for the 2023 World Athletic Championships, Lauren Ann Barnes, who earned a bronze medal at the Pan-American U20 Championships, and Dominique Hall who competed in the men’s decathlon at the European Athletics U23 Championships.

The Bearcats have already started their 2023-24 indoor season and will compete at the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee on Feb. 9.

Women’s Golf

The women’s golf team competed in their 2022-23 season opener at home at the Jennifer Duke Invitational at the Losantiville Country Club. The Bearcats placed sixth out of 11, and tenth out of 11. At the Rocket Classic, they placed sixth out of 11, and twelfth out of 13 at the Old Stone Invitational.

During the Texas State Invitational, the Red and Black secured second out of eight. The Bearcats would continue to compete into the 2023 AAC Championship where they would place ninth out of ten. In fall 2023, the Lady Bearcats placed third overall competing at the Judson. UC’s top five individual finishers were Paola Rosario and Winnie Chiang.

The Bearcats will open their spring campaign at Purdue’s Puerto Rico Classic on Feb. 4. The tournament will take place at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.

Women’s Soccer

In their fall season, the Bearcats went 4-8-7 overall and 2-3-5 in the conference, securing three wins at home and none away. The Red and Black competed in the 2023 Spring Sprouts Farmers Market Big 12 Soccer Championships, winning against Baylor but losing to Texas Tech.

The Bearcats recently announced their spring schedule, featuring five matches: two home and three away. Three of these games include the Spring Cup. The Red and Black added eight high school prospects to the team.

Head Coach Erica Demers signed three defenders, two goalkeepers, two forwards, and one midfielder in her first signing class. Games fans should look forward to are when the Red and Black will face off against Toledo ranked ninth in the MAC on Mar. 23 at Gettler Stadium.

The Bearcats’ first match is against Dayton ranked third in the Atlantic 10 on Mar. 1, at 7 p.m. at Gettler stadium.

Women’s Tennis

During their 2022-23 season, the Bearcats went 8-14 overall and 0-4 in the conference. The Red and Black only went on a losing streak of two throughout their season. The Lady Bearcats went all the way to the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championships where they lost to No. 6 Memphis 0-4.

A match fans can look forward to is when the Bearcats play No. 7 Baylor, according to the 2023 Big 12 standings list.

In the spring 2024 season so far, the Bearcats are 2-0. They secured these wins by playing Chicago State and the University of Southern Indiana.

Their next match is on Feb. 16 at home in Western Athletic Club, where they will play against Miami University.