Before this year, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) had never even qualified for the College World Series. But after beating second-ranked Sonoma State (Calif.) for the second time in as many days, the Tigers made sure to get the most out of their first trip to the national tournament. The 2-1 victory secured the upstart Tigers a berth to Saturday’s championship game, where they will face a Mount Olive (N.C.) that dealt them their only loss in the tournament. The game will be shown live on CBS College Sports at 1 p.m. Saturday. [...] Continue Reading »

The nation’s top-ranked team punched its ticket to the national championship game, as No. 1 Mount Olive (N.C.) held off a late rally by No. 7 Central Missouri to move within one win of the title for the first time in school history. Its opponent, however, remained up in the air after No. 4 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) forced a decisive second semifinal game.

After leading 5-1 in the seventh, Mount Olive–now the only unbeaten team left in the tournament–nearly let this one slip away. The Trojans (57-6) gave up a run in the seventh and another in the eighth, then allowed two Mule baserunners in the ninth before Patrick Ball slammed the door shut to earn his third save in the 5-3 final. Kyle Jones notched the win in just his second start of the season. After not playing baseball for three years, he has come on strong for the Trojans in the postseason. He allowed two runs on five hits against Central Missouri. Rich Racobaldo was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, and Erik Lovett and Josh Harrison added two hits apiece. Central Missouri’s season ends at 47-17. [...] Continue Reading »

After another day’s action at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., the national semifinals are set. With wins on Wednesday, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) and Central Missouri (Mo.) survive and advance to join unbeaten Mount Olive (N.C.) and Sonoma State (Calif.) in the final foursome.

No. 4 Ouachita Baptist trailed No. 16 Ashland (Ohio) 5-3 before ripping off nine straight runs in the sixth and seventh innings. The Tigers (49-15) would go on to win 12-5, sending Ashland (40-18) home for the summer. Ouachita Baptist’s Blake Lockwood picked a good time to smash his first home run of the season—a three run shot that was part of a three-run, three-RBI performance. Jim Streicher also added a home run and knocked in five runs. Trent Lingle pitched four innings and allowed one run on two hits to earn the win.

In the nightcap, Central Missouri used a gem by pitcher Danny Potje to stave off elimination and oust No. 21 Shippensburg (Pa.). Potje threw his first complete game of the year and didn’t allow a run until the ninth inning to help the Mules to the 5-1 win. But it was the lefthander’s ability to work out of jams that distinguished the performance. Potje scattered 11 hits and walked three, but stranded 12 batters and struck out eight to give the Central Missouri bullpen a rest. Potje also received more than enough run support, as the Mules knocked around 10 hits to manufacture five runs. Will Feil led the charge with two hits, two runs and an RBI. Shippensburg (39-26) saw its season end Wednesday, while the Mules (47-16) draw top-ranked Mount Olive in the semis.

As the tournament continues, the double-elimination format will come into play. If Mount Olive and Sonoma State keep rolling today, there will be no Friday games, and the two unbeaten squads will square off in the title game Saturday. If either team with a loss on its resume comes away with a win, they will need to play again on Friday to determine the championship matchup.

Top-ranked Mount Olive (N.C.) kept rolling and two-time defending champion Tampa was sent packing as the Division II Baseball Championships continued Tuesday at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.

Mount Olive scattered 19 hits and scored the game’s final 13 runs to rout No. 16 Ashland (Ohio) by a score of 18-7 and advance to the national semifinal. Erik Lovett knocked in five of those runs, going 3-for-6 and coming around to score once. David Cooper was 4-for-6 and scored three runs. Paul Novicki pitched 5 1/3 innings of relief and registered the win, allowing three hits and striking out five.

In the other bracket, No. 3 Tampa saw its hopes of a three-peat come to an end, as fourth-ranked Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) came from behind to win 12-10 and eliminate the Spartans from the tournament. [...] Continue Reading »

Tampa hit a roadblock in its quest for a three-peat and Sonoma State (Calif.) prevailed in a 19-inning marathon against Central Missouri as the NCAA Division II baseball championships continued at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.

Sonoma State’s Kevin Asselin knocked in the game-winning run in the 19th inning in the first at-bat of his career. But it wasn’t just at the plate that Asselin got it done Monday–the senior also picked up the 6-5 win on the mound, propelling the No. 2 Seawolves into the national semifinals. The game was nearly ended when Sonoma State’s Dave Herman went yard in the top of the 18th, but No. 7 Central Missouri answered to prolong the contest. The Seawolves actually led 4-0 early, but the Mules battled back. Central Missouri’s Chris Matlock pitched 9 1/3 innings in relief and struck out 13 Seawolves to keep within striking distance. But Sonoma State would advance in a game that spanned nearly seven hours and featured 32 hits. [...] Continue Reading »

Next week’s 2008 Division II Baseball Championships will be marked by both change and continuity.

After 23 consecutive years in Montgomery, Ala., the tournament moved to a new locale this year in Sauget, Ill., home of the Frontier League’s Gateway Grizzlies. But even in a new place, there are some familiar faces, as two-time defending national champion Tampa returns again, seeking the first-ever D-II World Series three-peat.

Tampa headlines a talented field of eight teams remaining for the double-elimination tournament, which starts Saturday afternoon. The event, co-hosted by Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Missouri-St. Louis, the Village of Sauget and the Grizzlies, will take place at GCS Ballpark.

The tournament will kick off at 2:30 p.m. with Sonoma State (Calif.) playing Shippensburg (Pa.), followed by a Central Missouri-Franklin Pierce (N.H.) nightcap at 6:30. On Sunday, Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) and Mount Olive (N.C.) College will square off in the day game, followed by a battle between Tampa and Ashland (Ohio). [...] Continue Reading »

The Tampa Spartans have done it again. The top-ranked Spartans (53-10) defeated Columbus State (Ga.) 7-2 Friday to win their school’s fifth Division II national championship. Tampa also became the first school to win back-to-back titles since it accomplished the same feat in 1992-93, led by current head coach Joe Urso at second base.

All-American closer Jonathan Holt (4-2), made the surprise start and threw a complete game six-hitter, giving up only one earned run and striking out eight without yielding a walk. Holt, ranked as the 148th draft prospect in our 2007 draft preview, had thrown 57 innings in 30 games this season and picked up his second win of Tampa’s four victories in the World Series. [...] Continue Reading »

Columbus State (Ga.) and Tampa have advanced to the 40th Division II national championship game in Montgomery, Ala.

Defending Champion Tampa, which is striving to become the first school since 1992-93 to win back-to-back Division II titles, advanced to the finals by defeating Southern Indiana, Cal State LA and Nebraska-Omaha. [...] Continue Reading »

In Division I, teams want to get to Omaha, synonymous with the College World Series. In Division II, Omaha is coming to the College World Series.

The University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks are headed to Montgomery. The Mavericks capped off an unprecedented run by going 4-0 in the Central Regional this past weekend, which included the sweep of the three highest-seeded teams in the region. Nebraska-Omaha (36-22) advanced to the Division II World Series for the first time in school history Sunday by defeating tournament veteran Central Missouri 9-4 in Warrensburg, Mo. UNO’s Evan Porter claimed Central Regional Tournament MVP honors after batting .471 (8-for-17) to go along with his two homers and seven RBIs. Six Mavericks were named to the all-regional team.

The rest of the D-II field includes Kutztown (Pa.), Cal State-Los Angeles, Angelo State (Texas), Franklin Pierce (N.H.), Columbus State (Ga.), Southern Indiana and defending national champion Tampa. [...] Continue Reading »