*** NJCAA DIVISION THREE ***
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.
The Apaches seized a 3-0 advantage in the 1st Inning. In the 3rd the Thunder Wolves cut that lead to just 3-1 but Tyler College recouped that run in the 4th, making it a 4-1 game. A Pitcher’s Duel commenced, ending with another Apache run in the 8th Inning to win their FOURTH title in a row, this one by a 5-1 score! Aberie Hiebert threw for the W. * THE APACHES ARE CHAMPIONS OF NJCAA DIVISION THREE *
*** NAIA ***
DAY FIVE, FIRST SEMIFINAL: This game pitted the 2nd seeded FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES against the top seed – the OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY STARS. The Eagles played a long game of accumulating runs, leading 2-0 in the 1st Inning, 3-0 in the 2nd and 4-0 in the 4th. Faulkner University drove in their last run in the 5th Inning, while the Stars didn’t get on the board until the 8th, scoring 3 runs of their own. The Eagles held on for a 5-3 victory behind Pitcher Ivan Pelaez. Continue reading
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. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The top seeded OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY BISON and the 5 seeds – the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS – were the last two teams standing in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). After a scoreless 1st Inning the Tigers went up 2-0 in the 2nd but the Bison cut that to a 2-1 edge in the 3rd. 
DAY TWO, GAME ONE: The COLORADO MESA UNIVERSITY MAVERICKS played the QUINCY UNIVERSITY HAWKS to start the 2nd day in the D2 World Series. The first 3 Innings were a Pitcher’s Duel with neither team scoring but the 4th ended with the Mavericks on top 2-1. The Hawks pulled ahead 3-2 in the 6th followed by Colorado Mesa University exploding in the 7th for 5 runs. It was all but over from there as the Mavericks took the game by a tally of 10-3 behind Pitcher Tyler Day. 
DAY FOUR, FIRST SEMIFINAL: The top seeds – the OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY BISON – did battle with the 2nd seeded EMMANUEL COLLEGE LIONS. The Lions managed a 1-0 1st Inning lead but the Bison knotted things up at 1-1 in the 2nd. After a scoreless 3rd Inning the 4th saw Oklahoma Baptist University take a comfortable 5-1 advantage. That turned into a 7-1 lead in the 5th enroute to a 9-2 smackdown win for the Bison and Pitcher Carson McPherson. 
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. 
DISTRICT 3-E – The storied CENTURY COLLEGE WOOD DUCKS took a pair of games to win this District’s title. First off the Wood Ducks battled the RAINY RIVER COLLEGE VOYAGEURS in an elimination game. Century College went up 1-0 in the 1st Inning and from there neither team scored until the Wood Ducks drove in 3 more runs in the 8th. Century won it 4-0. 
DISTRICT 3-C – The TYLER COLLEGE APACHES once again became District Champs after 2 final victories. The Apaches played their old rivals the EASTFIELD COLLEGE HARVESTERS and led them 2-1 in the 1st Inning. That became a 5-1 advantage in the 2nd and the rout was on. When all was said and done Tyler College bounced the Harvesters to the tune of 9-2. 
One last round of congratulations to the college baseball champions from the nine divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: The NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SHARKS and the MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY MARAUDERS met on the diamond for the second game of this best-of-three championship series. The Sharks had taken the previous day’s game so the determined Marauders – staring down the barrel of elimination – got off to a 3-0 1st Inning lead. 
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: The two teams battling it out for the D3 title were the TRINITY (TX) TIGERS and the KEYSTONE COLLEGE GIANTS. The Tigers forced a 2nd game by hammering the Giants FOURTEEN to SIX in the early game! In the decisive Game Two a 3-1 1st Inning lead for Trinity became a 5-3 edge in the 3rd Inning. By the 7th Inning the Tigers led the Giants 8-6 on their way to a 10-7 victory and their first title in baseball. Pitcher Chris Tate got the Win. * THE TIGERS ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS FOR NCAA DIVISION THREE * 
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