CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – For the fourth time in NCAA Division III baseball history, eight teams will descend on Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the College World Series. There are three new faces to the World Series this year. This year’s qualifiers line up at PG Cares Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium June 2-8 with a goal of hoisting the National Championship trophy.
The 2023 Championship field of eight is made up of Baldwin Wallace University (36-10), East Texas Baptist University (40-13), Endicott College (45-7), Johns Hopkins University (44-5), University of Lynchburg (43-7), Misericordia University (39-13), Salisbury University (35-6), and University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (36-11).
Baldwin Wallace University defeated Aurora University 6-5 and 16-6 to sweep the NCAA Tournament Super Regional best-of-three series and advance to the program’s third trip to the Division III World Series.
Making their first-ever NCAA Division III Baseball World Series appearance is East Texas Baptist University. The Tigers won game one, 9-1, over La Verne in the Super Regionals. ETBU dropped game two, 9-8, but bounced back to win the series in the winner take all game, 14-6, to clinch a spot at this year’s final site.
Another team making their first appearance to the World Series is Endicott College. The Gulls are making their first appearance after defeating Ithaca in the Super Regional round in two games, 12-10 and 7-3.
Johns Hopkins is making their 25th sixth appearance at the World Series as one of the most cemented programs in Division III history. Bob Babb has won 1,262 games entering the week in Iowa. The Blue Jays defeated Wheaton (Mass.) to advance to Cedar Rapids, but had to win games two and three to advance after falling in game one of the Super Regionals.
The third team making their first appearance in the Division III Baseball World Series is the University of Lynchburg. Lynchburg is advancing to the final site after taking down Shenandoah in the Super Regionals in a two game sweep, 9-6 and 3-1.
Misericordia University is making their second trip to the Division III Baseball World Series after pulling two big wins over Marietta in the Super Regional, 8-3 and 6-2.
The 2021 National Champions, Salisbury University, are coming back to Cedar Rapids for the third straight year as they look to climb to the top again. The Sea Gulls come to the World Series after picking up two wins over Rowan.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse posted 46 runs in their three-game Super Regional over a conference rival to advance to Cedar Rapids. UW-La Crosse is making their third appearance in the World Series this week.
The Division III College World Series features the winners of the two four-team, double elimination pools facing off in a best-of-three series for the national title. 2023 marks the 47th edition of the championship.
The opening-round matchups in Pool A are Johns Hopkins against Misericordia at 10:00a Friday, June 2. Endicott then opposes Baldwin Wallace at 1:15p.
Pool B play makes up the final two games on Friday, with Salisbury playing East Texas Baptist and Lynchburg taking on UW-La Crosse at 7:45p.
This weekend’s eight-team, double-elimination tournament, will feature four games on Friday-Saturday, June 2-3, two games on Sunday, June 4, and a maximum of four games on Monday, June 5. Tuesday, June 6 will be an off day for the two teams preparing for the championship series on Wednesday and Thursday. Game one of the championship series will be played on Wednesday, June 7, while game two and the if necessary game will be played on Thursday, June 8.
Eastern Connecticut State University won the 2022 NCAA Division III National Championship for the fifth time after making their 13th appearance in the College World Series in program history. The Warriors swept Salisbury University in the best-of-three series, 11-6 and 3-2.
The 2024 Championship will be hosted by the North Coast Athletic Conference and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission in Eastlake, Ohio at Classic Park.
