Two wins separates West Chester from a national championship.
The Golden Rams erased a three-run deficit in the eighth inning Wednesday afternoon and stunned UT Tyler, 6-5, at the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Finals in Cary, North Carolina, advancing to the national championship series for the first time since 2017.
West Chester improved to 47-10, setting a new single-season program record for victories while securing the program's third appearance in a Division II national championship series. The Golden Rams are seeking their third national title after winning championships in 2012 and 2017.
The comeback was fitting for a team that has made a habit of late rallies throughout the spring.
Trailing 5-2 entering the eighth, West Chester finally cracked UT Tyler ace Dylan Blomquist, who had dominated the Golden Rams for most of the afternoon. Caleb Strawhecker started the rally with a single before West Chester loaded the bases and chased Blomquist from the game after more than 130 pitches.
Patrick Gozdan delivered the turning point, lining a two-run single to cut the deficit to one. Tanner Donati followed with a walk to reload the bases before Andrew Kell worked a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. Moments later, Harry Middlebrooks lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home the go-ahead run and completing a stunning four-run inning.
The rally marked West Chester's 23rd comeback victory of the season.
Earlier, the Golden Rams had erased an early deficit after UT Tyler scored first in the opening inning. West Chester answered in the second when Kell singled, Middlebrooks was hit by a pitch and Landen Rozich drew a bases-loaded walk before Carter Rust delivered an RBI single to put the Golden Rams ahead 2-1.
UT Tyler eventually regained control in the seventh when Kaston Mason launched a three-run home run off the scoreboard in right field, giving the Patriots a 5-2 advantage and putting West Chester six outs from elimination.
Instead, the Golden Rams responded once again.
Luke Raho started and allowed two runs over 4.1 innings before Kyle Rogers delivered 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. Drew Simpson helped stabilize the game after the seventh-inning surge, while Nick Cugino worked a scoreless eighth to preserve the lead. Rozich handled the ninth, recording his fifth save of the season to send West Chester into the championship series.
West Chester will now face defending Division II champion Tampa in the national championship series, with the Golden Rams needing just two wins to capture another Division II national title. The best-of-three series opens Thursday night.
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