Sports

West Chester falls in Game 3 of Division II College World Series final

By Bryan Davis, Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa. The Tribune Content Agency

June 8, 2026 6:53 AM

CARY, N.C.- The University of Tampa baseball team jumped out to an early lead and held on to defeat West Chester, 8-4, in Game 3 of the Division II National Championship at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. on Saturday. The win gave Tampa (51-9) its 11th Division II national title and its third in as many seasons, both of which are new Division II program records.

"First off, congratulations to Tampa, they had a tremendous season and played a great game that was just enough to beat us today," said West Chester head coach Mike LaRosa. "I'm heartbroken for our players and staff, who gave this season everything they had, and I felt like we deserved to win this thing, but it doesn't always work out that way, and that's just how baseball is.

"Obviously, the emotions for our guys are very raw right now, but once the dust settles, we can look back and appreciate just how great a season we had. We rewrote the record books, including a new program wins record, and came one game short of a national championship in a game that I felt like could've easily gone either way. This was a really special group that was a lot of fun to coach because they genuinely just enjoyed playing baseball and being around each other."

Carter Rust was 2-for-4 with three RBI in the loss, while Tanner Donati was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI thanks to his solo home run in the seventh inning. Landen Rozich (Oxford) went 4-for-4 and scored a run.

"This was a really special group of guys and a really special season," added Donati. "Coach did a great job with the team chemistry in this group, and that is a big part of what makes this team so special and this ending so hard."

Tampa got out to an early lead with an RBI single in the first off the bat of Jake Brooks before scoring two more in the second with a two-RBI double to left center by Brayden Woodburn as the Spartans jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.

The Spartans added three more runs in the fourth via an RBI double by Jhoander Irigoyen, an RBI groundout by Jake Books, and an RBI single by Jordan Evans to carry a 6-0 lead into the fifth.

After being held relatively quiet through the first four innings, West Chester (48-12) showed its first signs of life at the plate in the fifth when Donati picked up the Golden Rams' third hit of the day with two outs in the inning and later scored on an RBI single by Rust to cut into the lead.

Tampa answered right back in the sixth when Irigoyen picked up his second RBI of the afternoon with a single to left to take a 7-1 lead.

Donati continued his big day at the plate with a solo shot to right field to start the seventh for his second hit on the afternoon and his second run, which cut the deficit to 7-2 before a sac fly from Rust, helped West Chester trim the lead to 7-3 as Christian Michak came around to score after singling as a part of three straight hits to open the seventh.

Rust continued the comeback bid with an RBI single in the ninth for his second hit and team-leading third RBI of the afternoon, but it was not enough to bring West Chester all the way back as the Golden Rams fell by an 8-4 final.

Drew Simpson suffered the loss for West Chester, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out three in 1.1 innings of work to fall to 3-2 on the season.

John Luke Glanton got the start for Tampa and allowed one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out three in 4.2 innings of work. Luke Fikar earned the victory in relief as he pitched the final 4.1, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out two.