EASTLAKE, OH – After seeing a national championship celebration slip away in an 11-10, 10-inning loss in Game 2 Thursday afternoon, top-seeded Denison (51-3) had little time to dwell on the disappointment. The Big Red returned to the field and delivered a championship response, rallying from a 3-0 deficit before defeating sixth-seeded Endicott (44-14), 4-3 in 10 innings in Game 3 of the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Series to secure the program's first national title.
The championship-clinching victory capped a dramatic final day in Eastlake. Endicott erased a late deficit to win Game 2 and force a decisive third game, but Denison answered with a comeback of its own in the winner-take-all finale. The Big Red finished the season 51-3 and became only the third NCAA Division III institution to capture three or more national championships during the 2025-26 academic year, adding baseball to national titles in women's basketball and men's swimming & diving.
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 2: No. 6 Endicott 11, No. 1 Denison 10 (10 innings)
Denison appeared poised to claim the NCAA Division III national championship, but Endicott rallied from a late deficit and walked off with an 11-10 victory in 10 innings to force a decisive Game 3. The Big Red erased an early 2-1 deficit and took control in the fifth when Cade Nowik launched a grand slam to give Denison a 6-2 lead. After Endicott stormed back with four runs in the sixth to tie the game, Denison answered with solo home runs from Nowik and Jack Lutte in the seventh. The drama continued in the ninth as Endicott scored three runs to take a 9-8 lead, only for Nowik to homer for the third time in the game to tie it before Jack Rollo delivered an RBI single that put Denison back in front, 10-9. Nowik finished with three home runs, six RBI, and a double, while Lutte added a homer and scored three runs for the Big Red.
Endicott refused to go away, matching every Denison punch in a back-and-forth classic. Kyle Grabowski drove in the game's first run and later sparked the eighth-inning comeback, while John Fusco collected three RBI, including a sacrifice fly in the 10th that plated the winning run. Cade Bernardo added three hits and a pair of RBI, and TJ Liponis scored four times as the Gulls totaled 14 hits. Endicott's bullpen proved critical after the grand slam, with Jake Harmony, Matt Pappalardo, and winning pitcher Kyan Bagshaw helping keep the game within reach before the offense delivered the decisive rally. The walk-off win evened the championship series and set up a winner-take-all Game 3 for the national title.
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 3: No. 1 Denison 4, No. 6 Endicott 3 (10 innings)
Denison completed its national championship run in dramatic fashion, rallying from a three-run deficit before walking off Endicott 4-3 in 10 innings to claim the NCAA Division III title. The Gulls struck first when John Fusco drove in Cade Bernardo with a second-inning single, then extended the lead to 3-0 in the third on a two-run home run by TJ Liponis. Endicott starter Evan Scully was dominant through five innings, but Denison chipped away on Max Fishbein’s solo homer in the fifth before tying the game in the sixth on an RBI double by Eron Vega and an RBI single from Erik Sundgren. The game remained deadlocked into extra innings before Kelly Crittenberger and Vega opened the 10th with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for Jack Lutte’s walk-off RBI single to right field.
While Denison’s offense delivered the final blow, the pitching staff was the difference after the early innings. Mahoney Daunic kept the Big Red within striking distance before Devin Parker entered in the third and turned in a championship-clinching relief performance, tossing 7.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out eight to earn the win. Endicott threatened several times, getting three hits from Bernardo and two RBI from Liponis, but Parker repeatedly escaped trouble and retired the Gulls in order in the 10th. Fishbein finished with two hits, including the homer that ignited the comeback, while Vega scored the tying run and helped create the winning rally as Denison completed the comeback to secure the national championship.
The All-Tournament Team was announced and seven of the 15 selections came from the national championship team. Nowik, the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, went 5-for-12 (.417) with three home runs, one double, six RBI and three runs scored during the championship series.
2026 NCAA Div. III Championship All-Tournament Team
C – Gabe Jones, Adrian
1B – Max Fishbein, Denison
2B – Eron Vega, Denison
3B – Cade Nowik, Denison
SS – TJ Lipnis, Endicott
OF – John Fusco, Endicott
OF – Jack Lutte, Denison
OF – Erik Sundgren, Denison
DH – Carson Livesay, East Texas Baptist
P – Cooper Maars, Denison
P – Devin Parker, Denison
P – Sean Parker, Adrian
P – Evan Scully, Endicott
P – Brady Stuart, Endicott
P – Isaac Thornton, East Texas Baptist
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER - Cade Nowik, Denison
Wednesday, June 3
Denison Takes Game One of NCAA Baseball Championship Series
EASTLAKE, OH – The 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Series opened with game 1 on Wednesday, June 3. Top-seeded Denison (50-2) captured a 6-0 win over sixth-seeded Endicott (43-13).
The Big Red and Gulls will meet for game 2 of the championship series at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 4.
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME 1: No. 1 Denison 6, No. 6 Endicott 0
Top-seeded Denison used an early offensive surge and dominant pitching to move one win away from a national title. The Big Red scored three times in the first inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Erik Sundgren and Max Fishbein before Andrew Fazio added a run-scoring groundout. Denison added insurance runs in the third, sixth, and seventh innings, with Kelly Crittenberger driving in a run on a sacrifice fly and Cade Nowik delivering an RBI single. Eron Vega and Jack Lutte each recorded two hits and reached base three times, while Sundgren, Fishbein, Fazio, and Nowik all contributed RBIs in a balanced nine-hit attack.
Endicott struggled to generate offense against Denison starter Cooper Marrs, who was outstanding over seven scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven without issuing a walk. Reliever Ryan Paganelis finished the shutout with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts as the Gulls managed only four hits all afternoon. Endicott starter Jeremy Krendel battled through five innings but was hurt by eight walks and early run support, allowing five runs in the loss. AJ Hamm, Kyle Grabowski, John Fusco, and James Benestad accounted for the Gulls’ four hits, but Endicott stranded several opportunities and was unable to solve Denison’s pitching staff.
Monday, June 1
Denison, Endicott Ready for NCAA DIII Baseball Championship Series
EASTLAKE, OH – The 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Series stage is set following four games on Monday, June 1.
To start the day, top-seeded Denison (49-2) collected a dominant 13-2 victory over eighth-seeded East Texas Baptist (40-13) in game 11. The Big Red punched their ticket to the championship series with an 11-7 win over the Tigers in game 13 to eliminate ETBU from the tourney. In Game 12, seventh-seeded Adrian (40-14) captured a 10-9 victory over sixth-seeded Endicott (43-12) to force Game 14. In the night cap, the Gulls knocked the Bulldogs out of the national tourney with a 4-2 win.
With the wins, the Big Red and Gulls will faceoff in the championship series with game 1 scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, at 12:00 p.m.
GAME 11: No. 1 Denison 13, No. 8 East Texas Baptist 2
Denison stayed alive with a decisive 13-2 victory over East Texas Baptist on Monday morning, forcing game 13. After three scoreless innings, the Big Red broke the game open in the fourth when Erik Sundgren launched a two-run homer and Nate Lloyd followed later in the inning with a two-run blast of his own as part of a five-run frame. Denison added another run in the fifth on Max Fishbein’s RBI double before East Texas Baptist cut the deficit to 6-2 in the sixth behind an RBI groundout from Connor Massimini and an RBI double by Carter Nannini. Any momentum the Tigers gained was short-lived, however, as Denison erupted for six runs in the eighth, highlighted by Jack Lutte’s two-run double and Sundgren’s RBI single, before Lloyd added an RBI single in the ninth.
The Big Red offense produced 16 hits, led by Sundgren’s three-hit, three-RBI performance and Lloyd’s four RBI. Lutte added two hits and two RBI, while Fishbein, Andrew Fazio, and Cade Nowik each recorded multiple hits. On the mound, Mahoney Daunic delivered a complete-game effort, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five over nine innings. East Texas Baptist managed only five hits, with Carson Livesay collecting two and scoring one of the Tigers' runs.
GAME 12: No. 7 Adrian 10, No. 6 Endicott 9
Adrian survived a furious ninth-inning rally and defeated Endicott, 10-9, to stay alive Monday afternoon. The Bulldogs built an early lead on Jake Burns’ sacrifice fly in the second and Gabe Jones’ RBI single in the third before Endicott answered to tie the game at 2-2. Adrian regained control late, getting an RBI single from Jack Boike in the seventh before breaking the game open with three runs in the eighth and four more in the ninth. Boike drove in three runs and reached base three times, while Nic Bruder and Jones each knocked in two runs. Jaxon McGuigan sparked the offense by going 3-for-4 with four runs scored, helping Adrian compile 11 hits and take a commanding 10-3 lead entering the bottom of the ninth.
Endicott refused to go quietly, erupting for six runs in the ninth and bringing the tying run to the plate. Brenden Walsh homered in the seventh and later added an RBI single in the ninth, while Adam Regan delivered the biggest hit of the comeback with a three-run double that cut the deficit to one run. Walsh finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, and Regan drove in four runs despite Endicott falling just short. Adrian reliever Lincoln Lipinski earned the win with five strong innings of relief, allowing two runs while striking out eight, and Ben Bates recorded the final two outs to secure the save.
GAME 13: No. 1 Denison 11, No. 8 East Texas Baptist 7
East Texas Baptist appeared in control early, scoring four runs in the first inning and building a 7-3 lead through six frames, but top-seeded Denison stormed back with an explosive late rally to claim an 11-7 victory and keep its national championship hopes alive. The Tigers wasted no time, loading the bases with three straight hits before Joaquin Costa delivered a two-run double and later scored on a wild pitch as part of a four-run opening frame. ETBU added two more runs in the third on a sacrifice fly by Brody Tewers and an RBI single from Juan Ortigoza, then stretched its lead to 7-3 in the sixth when Costa lined an RBI single to right. Costa finished 2-for-5 with three RBI, while Carson Livesay reached base four times and scored twice as the Tigers collected 12 hits.
Denison chipped away with two runs in the fifth before delivering the decisive blow in the seventh. Cade Nowik ignited the comeback with a two-run homer, Erik Sundgren followed with a game-tying two-run shot, and the Big Red capitalized on an East Texas Baptist error to score three more times in the inning, turning a 7-3 deficit into a 10-7 lead. Sundgren finished with two hits and two RBI, Nowik added a homer and two RBI, and Kelly Crittenberger drove in three runs, including a two-run single during the seven-run seventh inning. Denison's bullpen was outstanding after the early barrage, as Max Mullen, Will Rettig, and Ryan Paganelis combined to hold the Tigers to three runs over the final eight innings while striking out 11. The Big Red added an insurance run in the eighth and retired the final nine East Texas Baptist hitters to complete the dramatic comeback.
GAME 14: No. 6 Endicott 4, No. 7 Adrian 2
Endicott rode a dominant pitching performance and timely offense to a 4-2 victory over Adrian late into Tuesday morning, ending the Bulldogs’ postseason run and advancing. The Gulls struck first in the opening inning when Brenden Walsh singled home TJ Liponis, then added breathing room in the fifth as John Fusco lined a two-run single up the middle to score Kyle Grabowski and Cade Bernardo. Endicott tacked on another run in the seventh when Fusco doubled down the left-field line and later scored on AJ Hamm’s RBI single. Fusco finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and two runs driven in, while Walsh added an RBI and Bernardo collected two hits as part of a nine-hit attack.
The story of the game was Endicott starter Evan Scully, who silenced Adrian’s lineup for eight scoreless innings. Scully scattered five hits, walked none, and struck out seven, allowing the Bulldogs just one runner to reach third base through the first eight innings. Adrian mounted a late threat in the ninth when Nic Bruder singled and Christian Oliver followed with a two-run home run to cut the deficit in half, but reliever Brady Stuart recorded the final out to secure the win. Oliver accounted for both Adrian runs and finished with two hits, while Gabe Jones added two singles, but the Bulldogs were unable to overcome Scully’s masterful outing as their season came to a close.
Sunday, May 31
Denison & Adrian Advance; Two More Teams Eliminated from NCAA DIII College World Series
EASTLAKE, OH – On Sunday, May 31, game 9 and 10 of the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball College World Series were completed and two more teams were knocked off the road to the national title.
The day opened with game 9, as top-seeded Denison (47-2) eliminated fifth-seeded Baldwin Wallace (37-12) from the tournament with a 6-4 win, while seventh-seeded Adrian (39-13) knocked out second-seeded Rowan (38-7) in game 10 with a 4-1 victory.
With the wins today, the Big Red advance to game 11 to take on eighth-seeded East Texas Baptist (40-11) and the Bulldogs advance to game 12 to take on sixth-seeded Endicott (42-11). Both games are scheduled to be played on Monday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m. (game 11) and 1:30 p.m. (game 12). If Denison and/or Adrian win on Monday, the Big Red and Bulldogs would force if necessary games against their opponents later in the day.
GAME 9: No. 1 Denison 6, No. 5 Baldwin Wallace 4
Top-seeded Denison moved one step closer to a national championship with a 6-4 victory over Baldwin Wallace on Sunday morning. The Yellow Jackets struck first on an RBI single by Matt DelDuca in the opening inning and later built a 3-2 lead in the second after a two-run play that included an RBI single from Dennis Ritlinger-Nirider. Denison answered immediately, tying the game in the third on Kelly Crittenberger’s RBI single before taking control with a three-run fourth inning. The Big Red capitalized on a throwing error that brought home Nate Lloyd, then added RBI singles from Erik Sundgren and Max Fishbein to build a 6-3 advantage. Sundgren finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Jack Rollo collected three hits and an RBI as Denison piled up 14 hits.
Robbie Lee earned the win for Denison, striking out eight over 5.2 innings while allowing three runs, and Rollo closed the door with three innings of relief to record the save. Baldwin Wallace continued to battle, cutting the deficit to 6-4 in the seventh on DelDuca’s second RBI single of the game. DelDuca finished with two hits and two RBI, while Colin West and John Panstares each recorded two hits for the Yellow Jackets. However, Denison’s offense and pitching proved enough to withstand the challenge and send the Big Red into the national championship series.
GAME 10: No. 7 Adrian 4, No. 2 Rowan 1
Adrian leaned on a dominant pitching performance from Sean Parker and timely offense to defeat Rowan 4-1 to stay alive in the championship. The Bulldogs broke through in the third inning when Rolando Jimenez singled home Jack Boike before Gabe Jones followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Adrian added another run in the fourth on Nic Bruder’s fielder’s-choice RBI and extended the lead to 4-0 in the seventh when Jones drove in Jimenez for his second RBI of the game. Jimenez led the offense by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI, while Jones finished with two hits and two RBI as Adrian collected 11 hits.
Rowan threatened several times but could not solve Parker, who tossed a complete-game gem, allowing just one run on nine hits while striking out three without issuing a walk. The Profs finally got on the board in the seventh when pinch hitter Kevin Cole brought home Nick Struble with a groundout after Struble and Joey Bogart reached safely. Rowan stranded runners in scoring position in both the fifth and sixth innings, and Adrian's defense helped preserve the lead throughout. Christian Rice took the loss for Rowan after allowing three runs in the first four innings, while the Bulldogs' bullpen-free effort from Parker proved to be the difference in a season-saving victory.
Saturday, May 30
Denison, Rowan Stay Alive as Two Teams Exit NCAA Division III College World Series
EASTLAKE, OH – The 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball College World Series continued on Saturday, May 30. Games 5-8 concluded with two teams being eliminated from the national stage.
The day opened with game 5, as top-seeded Denison (46-2) eliminated fourth-seeded Johns Hopkins (38-12) from the tournament with an 8-0 win and eighth-seeded East Texas Baptist (40-11) upset fifth-seeded Baldwin Wallace (37-11), 7-6, in game 6. On the other side of the bracket, second-seeded Rowan (38-6) defeated third-seeded Salisbury (37-11), 8-3, in the game 7 elimination game. To end the night, sixth-seeded Endicott (42-11) collected a 12-2 win over seventh-seeded Adrian (38-13) in game 8.
On Sunday, the Big Red and Yellow Jackets are set for an elimination game at 11:00 a.m. (game 9), while the Bulldogs and Profs will compete in Game 10, an elimination game, at 3:00 p.m.
With the wins today, the Tigers advance to game 11, while the Gulls advance to game 12, both of which will be played on Monday, June 1. East Texas Baptist will take on the winner of game 9 at 10:00 a.m., while Endicott will faceoff with the winner of Game 10 at 1:15 p.m.
GAME 5: No. 1 Denison 8, No. 4 Johns Hopkins 0
Denison blanked Johns Hopkins 8-0 on Saturday afternoon behind a dominant pitching performance from Cooper Marrs and a 13-hit attack. The Big Red set the tone in the bottom of the first inning, with Erik Sundgren's RBI single bringing home Eron Vega before Jack Rollo's sacrifice fly scored Sundgren for an early 2-0 lead. Denison added two more in the fifth on Max Fishbein's RBI sacrifice bunt and a Kelly Crittenberger fielder's choice that pushed the margin to 4-0. Marrs cruised through seven innings on the mound, allowing just two hits while striking out nine and walking two.
The game broke open in the seventh as Denison plated four more runs. Rollo's RBI fielder's choice scored Jack Lutte to extend the lead to 5-0 before Andrew Fazio reached on an error to bring home another run. Nate Lloyd then capped the rally with a two-run single to left center to make it 8-0. Fishbein finished 3-for-3 with an RBI, Lutte added three hits and scored twice, and Vega contributed two hits and two runs scored. Ryan Paganelis closed out the final two innings to preserve the shutout, allowing one hit while completing Denison's combined three-hit, nine-strikeout effort. Johns Hopkins managed just three hits in the loss, with Luke Baker's ninth-inning double providing the lone extra-base hit, while Michael Yousef took the loss after surrendering 10 hits and three earned runs over 4.1 innings.
GAME 6: No. 8 East Texas Baptist 7, No. 5 Baldwin Wallace 6
East Texas Baptist rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat Baldwin Wallace 7-6 on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers scratched out an unearned run in the top of the first when Carson Livesay scored on Carter Nannini's RBI groundout, but Baldwin Wallace answered in the second when Carson Petrecca came around on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1. The Yellow Jackets then took control with two runs in the third on Dennis Ritlinger-Nirider's RBI single and Mario Escano's bases-loaded walk, followed by Sean Kolenich's two-run home run in the fourth that extended the lead to 5-1.
East Texas Baptist battled back with a three-run fifth inning featuring Juan Ortigoza's RBI single and Nannini's two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-4, before Justin Flannery's two-run double in the eighth put the Tigers ahead 6-5. East Texas Baptist added an insurance run in the ninth on Joaquin Costa's RBI, and Baldwin Wallace's late rally fell short despite Matt DelDuca's RBI double in the bottom of the ninth. Nannini led the Tigers with three RBI, Livesay reached base three times and scored three runs, and Matthew Irwin earned the win in relief, working 2.2 innings with five strikeouts. Baldwin Wallace produced nine hits in the loss, paced by Matt Terzola's three-hit night and Kolenich's two-run home run, while Matt Moscarino took the loss after surrendering six runs (three earned) over eight innings with eight strikeouts.
GAME 7: No. 2 Rowan 8, No. 3 Salisbury 3
Rowan advanced with an 8-3 victory over Salisbury on Saturday evening, using a combination of timely hitting and capitalizing on defensive miscues to pull away. The Profs struck first with two runs in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly by Brett Chiesa and an RBI single from Nick Struble before Salisbury answered with a bases-loaded walk by Jay Newton in the third. Rowan immediately responded when Brayden Davis launched a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, then broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning. Struble delivered an RBI single, a wild pitch brought home another run, and Mason Dorsey capped the rally with a two-run double as the Profs built a commanding 8-1 advantage.
Rowan starter Austin Kreyenhagen set the tone on the mound, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight over six innings to earn the win. Davis finished with three runs scored and a home run, Struble went 3-for-4 with two RBI, and Dorsey added two hits and two RBI in the victory. Salisbury mounted a late rally in the ninth on an RBI triple by Jackson Inman and an RBI double from Newton, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. The Sea Gulls collected eight hits and drew seven walks, led by two-hit performances from Nathan Tondreault and Griffin Shirk, yet Rowan’s 11-hit attack and decisive fifth inning were the difference as the Profs moved on with the win.
GAME 8: No. 6 Endicott 12, No. 7 Adrian 2
Endicott used a relentless offensive attack to pull away for a 12-2 victory over Adrian on Saturday night. Adrian struck first in the second inning when Jake Burns launched a two-run home run to left field, but the Gulls answered with four runs in the third, highlighted by Brenden Walsh’s two-run triple, to take control. Endicott continued to build its lead with a three-run fourth inning, sparked by TJ Liponis’ two-run homer, before adding four more runs in the fifth and a solo shot from Adam Regan in the sixth. Liponis drove in three runs, Walsh finished with three RBI, and Regan scored four times as Endicott piled up 13 hits.
After surrendering Adrian’s early homer, Endicott’s pitching staff took over. Jeremy Krendel earned the win in relief, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out three. The Gulls limited Adrian to two runs despite 10 hits, stranding runners throughout the night and turning two double plays. Adrian was led offensively by Burns’ two-run homer and two-hit efforts from Christian Oliver and Casey Finn, but the Bulldogs were unable to keep pace after Endicott’s explosive middle innings. The victory moved Endicott forward in the tournament, while Adrian saw its season come to an end.
Friday, May 29
Four Upsets Open Day One of NCAA Baseball Championship
EASTLAKE, OH -- Games 1-4 of the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball College World Series were completed on Friday, May 29.
The world series opened with fifth-seeded Baldwin Wallace (37-10) claiming an 11-4 victory over fourth-seeded Johns Hopkins (38-11), while eighth-seeded East Texas Baptist (39-11) defeated top-seeded Denison (45-2), 5-1, in game 2 and seventh-seeded Adrian (38-12) beat second-seeded Rowan (37-6) 10-1 in game 3. In the night cap, game 4, sixth-seeded Endicott (41-11) collected a 5-1 win over third-seeded Salisbury (37-10).
The Blue Jays and Big Red will meet up in an elimination game (game 5) which will be played Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m., while the Yellow Jackets and Tigers will compete in game 6 which is set for a 1:30 p.m. start. On the other side of the bracket, elimination game 7 is set for 5:00 p.m. with the Profs facing off with the Sea Gulls, while game 8 is set for an 8:00 p.m. start with the Bulldogs taking on the Gulls.
GAME 1: No. 5 Baldwin Wallace 11, No. 4 Johns Hopkins 4
Baldwin Wallace rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat Johns Hopkins 11-4 on Friday morning. The Blue Jays grabbed the lead on solo home runs from William Jaun and Jacob Harris, but the Yellow Jackets answered with Matt DelDuca’s two-run homer in the fourth and took the lead for good on Sean Kolenich’s sacrifice fly in the fifth. Baldwin Wallace starter Brit Kostura settled in after the early damage, allowing just two runs over seven innings to earn the victory.
The game broke open in the seventh when Mario Escano led off with a home run before Kolenich delivered a grand slam as part of a five-run inning that stretched the lead to 8-2. Baldwin Wallace added three more runs over the final two innings, including DelDuca’s second home run of the day. DelDuca finished with two homers and four RBI, while Kolenich drove in five runs. Johns Hopkins collected 10 hits in the loss, led by Jaun’s home run, double, and three RBI, but Baldwin Wallace’s four-homer attack and dominant middle innings proved the difference.
GAME 2: No. 8 East Texas Baptist 5, No. 1 Denison 1
East Texas Baptist upset top-ranked Denison 5-1 on Friday afternoon using timely hitting and outstanding pitching to hand the Big Red just their second loss of the season. The Tigers broke a scoreless tie in the third inning on Jobee Boone’s sacrifice fly and added a key insurance run in the eighth when Juan Ortigoza doubled home Justin Flannery. Denison finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth as Max Fishbein singled home Jack Lutte, cutting the deficit to 2-1, but the ETBU responded with three runs in the ninth to put the game away. Flannery finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Kahne Nolen and Ortigoza each delivered RBI doubles as part of the Tigers’ 11-hit attack.
East Texas Baptist’s pitching staff proved to be the difference, as Isaac Thornton and Conner Smeltzer combined to limit Denison to just four hits while stranding nine runners. Thornton earned the win after allowing one run over 7.2 innings with seven strikeouts, and Smeltzer closed out the final four outs for the save. Denison starter Will Rettig kept the Big Red within striking distance, surrendering only one run over six innings despite working around five walks. Eron Vega led Denison offensively with two hits, including a triple, while Fishbein drove in the lone run, but the Big Red were unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities as East Texas Baptist advanced into the winners bracket with the victory.
GAME 3: No. 7 Adrian 10, No. 2 Rowan 1
Adrian erupted for eight runs in the sixth inning to break open a tight pitcher's duel and went on to defeat Rowan 10-1. The Profs struck first in the third on Brayden Davis's sacrifice fly that brought home Mason Dorsey, but the Bulldogs' bats came alive in the sixth against Rowan starter Zach Coluccio. Gabe Jones launched a grand slam to center field to give Adrian a 4-1 lead, and Jake Burns, Jack Boike, and Nic Bruder followed with RBI hits to cap the eight-run frame. Adrian added single runs in the seventh and ninth on RBI singles from Burns and pinch hitter Aiden Melvin. Jones finished with four RBI on his grand slam, Boike added two doubles and two RBI, and Bruder reached base four times while stealing two bases as part of Adrian's 10-hit attack.
Adrian's pitching proved to be the difference, as Landon Kozlowski and Sean Parker combined to limit Rowan to one run on nine hits while striking out eight. Kozlowski earned the win after allowing one run over six innings with five strikeouts, and Parker closed out the final three innings without allowing a hit to lock down his fourth save. Coluccio took the loss for Rowan, surrendering eight runs (five earned) over 5.2 innings, while Dane Samartino followed with two scoreless innings of relief. Mason Dorsey led the Profs offensively with three hits, and Damon Suriani added two hits including a double, but Rowan was unable to recover from Adrian's sixth-inning outburst as the Bulldogs advanced into the winners bracket with the nine-run win.
GAME 4: No. 6 Endicott 5, No. 3 Salisbury 1
Endicott defeated Salisbury 5-1 behind a dominant 15-strikeout pitching performance. The Gulls took a 2-0 lead in the second inning by capitalizing on a pair of Salisbury errors, with Adam Regan's RBI single through the left side bringing home the second run. AJ Hamm tripled home John Fusco in the third to push the lead to 3-0. Salisbury's only run came on Max Ehrhardt's solo home run to left field in the fourth, but Endicott starter Brady Stuart kept the Sea Gulls in check the rest of the way, working six innings with 11 strikeouts and just one earned run allowed to improve to 9-0 on the season.
Endicott added insurance in the seventh when TJ Liponis scored on a wild pitch after being hit by a pitch and advancing on a Cade Bernardo single, then closed the scoring in the ninth on James Benestad's bases-loaded hit by pitch that brought home Kyle Grabowski. Jake Harmony shut the door in relief for Endicott, working three hitless innings with four strikeouts to lock down his second save of the season. Fusco reached base three times with a double, a single, and a hit by pitch, and Grabowski added two hits including a double and a stolen base. Salisbury collected five hits in the loss, paced by Nathan Tondreault's two-hit night including a double and Ehrhardt's solo homer, but Endicott's 15-strikeout pitching effort and ability to capitalize on Salisbury's miscues proved the difference.