Wednesday’s national semi-final game is set, and it will be a rematch with the Central Missouri Mules. After falling 12-9 to the Bears on Sunday night the Mules took down East Stroudsburg 12-8 earlier today to stay alive and advance in the tournament.
The Bears’ couldn’t have asked for a better start to the NCAA DII Championships, as they currently sport a 2-0 record following 15-11 and 12-9 wins over East Stroudsburg and Central Missouri. Lenoir-Rhyne has totals of 27 runs, 26 hits, 25 RBI’s, six home runs, and five doubles over the course of two games. Leading the way is All-American Sal Carricato, who is batting .444 with three home runs and nine RBI’s over the course of the first two games. Carricato, Cole Laskowski, and Mackenzie Wainwright have each tallied 4+ hits in the two games with Wainwright leading the way at 5-for-12 and four runs scored. On the mound, starters Andrew Harlow and William Girardi have each gone six innings to pick up wins. Gavin Marley has been clutch in end of game situations, striking out eight in 4.0 innings of work.
Central Missouri’s route to this game was a 5-3 win over Northwood, 12-9 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne, and a 12-8 win over East Stroudsburg. The Mules are no strangers to this stage as they have advance to the NCAA Championships 21 times in their storied history, winning titles in 1994 and 2003. They most recently advanced to the title game in 2021 where they fell 5-3 to fellow SAC school Wingate. The Mules sport an offense that has six qualified individuals batting .300 or more and rank ninth in DII with 88 home runs. Jacob Steele (.383 avg., 90 hits, 75 runs, 62 RBI’s, 13 HR’s) and Dayvin Johnson (.338 avg., 73 hits, 70 runs, 58 RBI’s, 15 HR’s) were both named to D2CCA All-Americans, while Vance Tobol’s .730 slugging percentage and 20 home runs leads the team in power numbers. Jack Kriesman, Jack Scott, and Evan O’Toole are Central Missouri’s main starters, with JD McReynolds being their main middle innings/closing pitcher. McReynolds pitched well against the Bears on Sunday, allowing just two hits and striking out four in two innings of work.
Wednesday’s game will serve as a double-elimination game for the Bears and single-elimination for the Mules. A win for Lenoir-Rhyne would secure their spot in a three-game championship series with the other side of the bracket, while a Central Missouri win would set up a rematch between the two teams on Thursday.
SCENARIOS
1. If after Game 11 (LR vs. UCM, Wednesday at 1:30) both teams have one loss, these teams will play a Bracket One “if necessary” game on Thursday, June 5th. If this is the only game on Thursday, it will be played at 3 p.m. If there are two games, it will be played at 1:30 p.m
2. If after Game 12 (NNU vs. Tampa/UT Tyler, Wednesday at 6:00) both teams have one loss, these teams will play a Bracket Two “if necessary” game on Thursday, June 5th. If this is the only game on Thursday, it will be played at 3 p.m. If there are two games, it will be played at 6 p.m
3. If any “if necessary” games are played on Thursday, June 5th, the championship series will begin with one game at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6th. The second game of the championship series will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7th. A third championship series game (if necessary) will be played immediately following.
4. If no “if necessary” games are played on Thursday, June 5th, the first championship series game will be at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5th. The second game of the championship series will be at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6th. If a third championship series game is necessary, it will be played at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7th.
