The Northern Sun Division 2 college baseball Conference Tournament continued yesterday as the 4 teams remaining played 3 games which whittled the field down to 2 final teams. The teams remaining, Wayne State and Minnesota State, will play for a nice trophy and an NCAA automatic bid to the NCAA Regional (they will both qualify win or lose). It is somewhat appropriate that these are the last 2 teams as they were the best 2 teams all year long and split their regular season series 2-2. The Wildcats hold the advantage as they are undefeated and the Mavericks would need to win twice to take the title.
In games played yesterday, Wayne State advanced to the championship game by beating Upper Iowa (10-4). WSC Advances With Win
Minnesota State advanced all the way through the losers bracket by beating Southwest Minnesota State 6-5 and then avenging an opening game loss to Upper Iowa and winning 12-3. Upper Iowa’s season appears to be over and they finish with an overall record of 26-26. The team loses 13 seniors, including 3/4 of it’s primary starting pitchers. Upper Iowa Drops 2 Games
Southwest Minnesota State’s loss to Minnesota State knocked them out of the NSIC Tourney but they still have an excellent chance to get their first ever NCAA Tournament bid. The Mustangs entered the week in 5th place in the NCAA D2 Regional college baseball poll and the top 6 teams make the Regional. SMSU was rooting for Upper Iowa to lose and not take the automatic bid. SMSU Awaits Possible NCAA Bid
In other games of interest, Colorado State – Pueblo battled all the way back through the loser’s bracket of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament to win the NCAA automatic bid. The ThunderWolves entered the week as the #6 team in the NCAA Central Region poll and have assured themselves of not being nervous later today that someone might have jumped ahead of them to take the final spot. Pueblo Claims RMAC Championship
