One last round of congratulations to the college baseball champions from the nine divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – LEWIS-CLARK STATE WARRIORS (Threepeat)
Runners-Up – Faulkner University Eagles
2016 Champions – Lewis-Clark State Warriors
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
National Champions – OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY BISON
Runners-Up – Campbellsville University Tigers
2016 Champions – Oklahoma Baptist University Bison Continue reading
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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The Defending National Champions – the 5th seeded LEWIS- CLARK STATE WARRIORS – battled the 2 seeds – the FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES for the title. Runs were flying in the 1st Inning, which ended with the Warriors on top of the Eagles 3-2. 
PENULTIMATE GAME: The 2nd seeded FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES needed to defeat the 5 seeds – the LEWIS-CLARK STATE WARRIORS – in order to force a deciding game the next day. A 1-0 1st Inning lead for the Eagles stood unchanged until the 4th, when it became a 2-1 advantage. The Warriors responded with a huge 5th Inning which saw them take the lead by a score of 5-2. Faulkner University shut out Lewis-Clark State from there while cutting their lead down to 5-3 in the 6th Inning and 5-4 in the 8th. The Eagles drove in 2 runs in the 9th for a 6-5 victory behind the pitching of Austin Moreland. 
DAY SIX, FIRST SEMIFINAL: The UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO TRITONS took the diamond against the SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE SPARTANS. After a scoreless 1st Inning the Tritons grabbed a 2-0 edge in the 2nd and a 4-0 advantage in the 3rd. That set the pattern for the game as UC-San Diego scored in every remaining Inning except the 8th while simultaneously shutting out the Spartans. The Tritons eviscerated their opponents to the tune of TEN to NOTHING courtesy of a complete Iron Man Game by Pitcher Kyle Goodbrand. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The final two teams left standing in NJCAA D3 were the 3-time Defending National Champions – the TYLER COLLEGE APACHES – and the NIAGARA COUNTY COLLEGE THUNDER WOLVES. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The 3 seeds – the CALIFORNIA LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY KINGSMEN – and the 5th seeded WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE PRESIDENTS were tied up at 1 game apiece headed into this decisive Game Three. 
DAY FOUR, GAME ONE: The 9th seeded WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS continued their Cinderella run, this time against the 6 seeds – the MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SPARTANS. The Crusaders immediately seized a 2-0 edge in the 1st Inning, followed by the Spartans making it a 2-1 score in the 3rd. William Carey University drove in 3 runs in the 4th Inning and SIX in the 5th on their way to a resounding TWELVE to THREE triumph. Pitcher Cole Edgins picked up the win. 
DAY THREE, GAME TWO: Another elimination game and another upset followed. The 10 seeds – THE MASTER’S UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS – did battle with the 4th seeded KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS. Neither team scored until the 4th Inning, when the Seahawks eked out a 2-1 edge. The Mustangs added 4 more runs in the 5th and 6th Innings before their bats went as cold as Keiser’s. The Master’s University smacked down the Seahawks by a score of 9-2 behind the pitching of Robert Winslow. 
DAY FOUR, SECOND SEMIFINAL: The two teams fighting for the other berth in the title game were the 5th seeded CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS and the 6 seeds – the SOUTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES. Neither team scored in the 1st Inning but in the 2nd the Tigers eked out a 1-0 edge. It was a Pitcher’s Duel for awhile from there, but the 6th Inning saw the Eagles climb on top 3-1. Cambellsville University pulled to within 3-2 in the top of the 8th but in their at-bat Southwestern Christian University made it a 4-2 game. In the 9th Inning the Tigers drove in 3 more runs for a 5-4 victory. Nick “Mister” Przybylek threw for the win. 