NCAA DIII Baseball Championship Preview

| By: Haiden Diemer-McKinney, Wabash '26
EASTLAKE, OH - Eight teams remain in the hunt for the 2025 NCAA Division III Baseball National Championship, each bringing its own record, storyline and momentum to Eastlake, Ohio. From persistent powerhouses to first-time contenders, this year’s field is stacked with talent and history-making potential. Here's a closer look at the final eight and what each program brings to the College World Series stage.
 
No. 8 Messiah College Falcons: 36-14 (18-3 MAC Commonwealth)
The only unranked team remaining in the NCAA Division III Baseball World Series field, Messiah is ready to continue its unlikely postseason run. The Falcons are also the lone squad that didn’t enter the regional as a one-seed. Messiah set a new school record for wins in a season with 36, shattering single-season program records in doubles (108), triples (20), and home runs (56).
 
Messiah earned its spot by winning the MAC Commonwealth title for the first time since 2012 and securing the conference’s automatic qualifier. Their path to Eastlake included wins over Methodist, Randolph-Macon, and No. 8 Salisbury, two of which had beaten the Falcons earlier in the season. Messiah has found a new peak, as this is the first time the program has reached the College World Series.
 
No. 7 Rowan University Profs: 36-10 (14-4 NJAC)
Rowan is making its return to the NCAA College World Series for the first time since 2021. The Profs fell just short of a conference title, losing in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Game to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). However, their résumé was strong enough to earn an at-large bid, leading to their fifth straight appearance in the Super Regionals. School records on the year included runs scored (480), RBI (447), and sacrifice flies (34).
 
Rowan rolled through the regional round with wins over Grove City and Catholic before pulling off a major road upset over No. 5 Lynchburg, sweeping the Super Regional in two games. Winners of national championships in 1978 and 1979, the Profs seek to collect their third-ever national title this week.
 
No. 6 Trinity University Tigers (TX): 41-8 (27-3 SCAC)
After a dominant postseason run, Trinity (TX) returns to the NCAA Division III College World Series for the fourth time in program history. The Tigers captured their 15th Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championship to secure an automatic bid.
 
In the regional round, Trinity got its revenge on East Texas Baptist, who had knocked them out of the tournament two years ago, and added a win over Huntingdon. Trinity then overcame McMurry in the Super Regionals, finishing a 5-0 sweep against the Warhawks this season. At 41 wins, the Tigers will chase their second national title ever, with their last coming in 2016.
 
No. 5 Kean University Cougars: 40-9 (17-1 NJAC)
Kean enters the NCAA Division III College World Series as the second representative from the powerhouse NJAC with a strong postseason resume. Despite falling to TCNJ in the NJAC Tournament, just like fellow conference contender Rowan, the Cougars earned an at-large bid after claiming the regular season conference title.
 
In regional play, Kean eliminated Husson, Middlebury and No. 19 Cortland to advance, then emerged victorious in a hard-fought Super Regional series over No. 7 Salve Regina. The Cougars returned to the College World Series for the first time since 2013 and will look to recapture the magic of their 2007 national championship run.
 
No. 4 Endicott College Gulls: 43-4 (16-0 CNE)
Endicott is back in the NCAA Division III College World Series for the third straight season, owning one of the most dominant resumes in the field. The Gulls went undefeated in both conference play and on their home field en route to winning the Conference of New England (CNE) tournament and earning an automatic qualifier.
 
Endicott accumulated 532 scored runs on the season, the first time the Gulls have ever broken the 500-run mark. Other records included 480 RBI and a .345 team batting average. After getting past Bridgewater State and overpowering No. 24 Concordia (TX) twice in the Regional, Endicott then took down No. 21 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the Super Regional. Although they’ve secured their third consecutive trip to the College World Series, the Gulls are still chasing their first-ever national title.
 
No. 3 Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks: 44-6 (24-4 WIAC)
Returning to the NCAA Division III College World Series as last year’s national runner-up, Wisconsin-Whitewater is back with unfinished business. The Warhawks claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament title, their second consecutive and ninth in program history.
 
They advanced past Washington University and Adrian in the Regional round, then once again handled No. 25 Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the Super Regionals, the same team they defeated for the conference crown. With 44 wins, Whitewater shattered single-season program records for home runs (100), slugging percentage (.610) and total bases (1,099). Making their ninth World Series appearance, the Warhawks aim to finish the job and secure their third national title, adding to championships from 2005 and 2014.
 
No. 2 Denison Big Red: 40-5 (14-1 NCAC)
Without a season postseason loss, Denison punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III College World Series for the first time in program history. The Big Red captured their sixth consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) tournament title and stormed through Manchester, No. 18 Keystone, and Belhaven in Regional and Super Regional play.
 
Crossing the 40-win mark for the first time, Denison also set new single-season program records in home runs (50), sacrifice flies (45), and fewest hits allowed (278). As one of the top contenders in the field, the Big Red intend to shake up the bracket and capture their first national title.
 
No. 1 John Hopkins: 44-3 (17-1 Centennial)
As the nation’s top team, Johns Hopkins enters the NCAA Division III College World Series with sky-high expectations after earning 24 of 25 first-place votes in D3baseball.com’s final poll. The Blue Jays were flawless at home this season (27-0) and cruised to their third consecutive Centennial Conference Tournament title.
 
They swept through Farmingdale State, Rutgers-Camden and RPI in the regionals before overcoming No. 17 Case Western Reserve to win their third Super Regional since 2019. Now making their seventh College World Series appearance and having twice played for the national title, the Blue Jays are on a mission to finally capture their national championship and cement themselves as one of the greatest teams in Division III baseball history.
 
Friday's Opening Round Matchups (double elimination bracket):
No. 4 Endicott vs. No. 5 Kean: 10:00 a.m.
No. 1 John Hopkins vs. No. 8 Messiah: 1:15 p.m.
No. 2 Denison vs. No.  7 Rowan: 4:45 p.m.
No. 3 UW-Whitewater vs. No. 6 Trinity (TX): 8:00 p.m.

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