MASON, Ohio – The 2023 Great Midwest South Division Champion Trevecca Nazarene University baseball team (31-21) saw its run through the elimination bracket of the 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championships end on Friday with a 3-2 loss to the fifth seed, the University of Findlay (31-21).

Trevecca lost its opener on Wednesday to seventh-seed Ohio Dominican University, 4-2, as the Panthers upset the Trojans, sending them to the elimination bracket.

On Thursday, the Trojans stayed alive with two must-win victories. First, over third-seed Ashland University, 6-3, on a walk-off three-run pinch-hit home run off the bat of David Milam in the bottom of the tenth inning at Legacy Field. A couple of hours later, Trevecca moved to Prasco Park and beat fourth-seeded Hillsdale College, 3-0, behind a complete game shutout from freshmen Jonah Smithson. 

The winner of the G-MAC Championship earns the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. Trevecca is currently ranked eighth in the Midwest Region. They are clinging to hope their name will be called during the NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show on Sunday night at 10:00 PM.

2023 Great Midwest Championships – HOME PAGE 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Findlay scored first, plating two runs in the top of the third. Keelan Daniel reached on an error with one away for the Oilers. Aiden Lao walked next, moving Daniel to second. Cole Kwiatowki singled, scoring Daniel and moving Lao to second. Cam Farrar fouled out, but both Oiler runners moved up to scoring position with two gone in the inning. Then a balk was called on the Trojan pitcher, forcing in Lao from third giving the Oilers a 2-0 lead. 

Trevecca bounced back with a two-run third and the teams were tied 2-2 until the ninth. 

Frankie Carreras singled to open the bottom of the third. Bryant Goolsby walked. A sac ground out by David Milam moved the runners to second and third. An out later and two gone in the inning, Shawn Wallwork doubled to left, driving in both base runners for a 2-2 game. 

A lead-off walk of Nate Brooks in the top of the ninth proved to be the death nail for the Trojans. Brooks moved to second on a sac ground out and an out later, he stole third. Andrew Micale singled to drive in what would prove to be the winning run. 

The Trojans did make a run at extending the game with a lead-off walk to Paxton Hughes in the bottom of the ninth. Logan West pinch ran for Hughes and was forced out at second on a fielders choice by Andru Becker. Joey Parliment singled to left and Becker moved to third. The next two batters could not reach or sacrifice Becker in from third and the Trojan's tournament run ended. 

MOUND AND BOX NOTES

Joey Parliment went 2-5

Shawn Wallwork was 1-4 with a double and two RBI

Andru Becker had a double and was 1-3 with a walk.

Mason Wells started and went 6.1 innings allowing one hit and only two unearned runs. He walked one and struck out two. 

ALL-TIME SERIES

Trevecca is 2-3 versus Findlay this season and 7-8 all-time. 

2023 Great Midwest Championship Participating Teams

** = eliminated

TOURNAMENT FIELD

The 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship is May 10-13 at Prasco Park and Legacy Field in Mason, Ohio.

Wednesday | May 10 (Central Time)

GM 1: #6 WALSH def. #3 ASH 7-5 (10 AM) Legacy

GM 2: #7 ODU def. #2 TREV 4-2 (Noon) Prasco

GM 3: #4 HILLS def. #5 FINDLAY 7-6 (1:30 PM) Legacy

GM 4: #1 NORTH def #8 KWC (5 PM) Prasco

Thursday | May 11 (Central Time)

GM 5: TREV def ASH 6-3 (9 AM) Legacy

GM 6: FINDLAY def KWC 5-0 (10 AM) Prasco

GM 7: ODU vs. WALSH 7-3 (12:30 PM) Legacy

GM 8: NORTH def HILLS 7-2 (1:30 PM) Prasco

GM 9: FINDLAY vs. WALSH 5-3 (4 PM) Legacy

GM 10: TREV vs. HILLS 3-0 (5 PM) Prasco

Friday | May 12 (Central Time)

GM 11: ODU def. NORTH 5-1 (11 AM) Prasco

GM 12: FINDLAY def TREV 3-2 (1:15 PM) Legacy

GM 13: FINDLAY vs. NORTH (5 PM) Prasco

Saturday | May 13 (Central Time)

GM 14 : ODU vs. Winner GM13 (11 AM) Prasco

GM 15: Winner GM14 vs. Loser GM14 - If Necessary (40 min. after GM14) Prasco

GREAT MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS

Six times the Trojans have won the regular-season title, and four times have earned the tournament championship. They won the first three regular-season and postseason championships.

ALL-TIME TREVECCA NOTES

The Trojans completed their 53rd regular season and now have 35 winning seasons. In fact, in the NCAA era the Trojans have just one season with a record below .500 (22-23 in 2017), not counting the  COVID-shortened 2020 season. With the completion of the 2023 regular season, the Trojans have a polished 76% winning percentage in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play.

This is the eleventh season for Trevecca with an NCAA Division II schedule.

332-201 Overall NCAA Era (11 years)

183-60 Great Midwest Regular Season Games (11 years)

32-18 Postseason NCAA Era (11 years)

7 - 30-win seasons in NCAA Div. II Era (11 seasons)

1440-1107 - 11 All-time Record (NAIA/NCAA - 53 seasons)  

20 - 30-win seasons (53 seasons)

CHASE SAIN NOTES

Chase Sain is in his third season as the head coach at Trevecca. Currently, Sain (101 wins) surpassed the 100 career wins mark recently in his third season as Head Coach.

Overall: 104-49

Conference: 67-20

Postseason: 10-5

Sain has already guided the Trojans to their twentieth season of 30+ wins, 14 of which include win totals of 35 or more.

Great Midwest Coach of the Year - 2021

ABCA/ATEC Midwest Region Coach of the Year - 2021

MIDWEST REGIONALS

The Trojans advanced to the NCAA Div. II Regional just once (2021). After winning the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Great Midwest tournament titles, the Trojans were never selected for an at-large bid to the Midwest Regional until they automatically punched their way to the tournament in 2021.

Trevecca nearly completed the sweep of the Midwest Region in 2021, finishing the tournament as champions with a 4-1 record and a run differential of +14 (37-23).

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS

Visit the Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com | www.trevecca.edu

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