Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges outslugged 2025 World Series participant Kean University, 10-8, in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship to advance into the winner’s bracket.
Kean opened the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning but a double play cut out any more danger and the Stags were able to level the score in the fourth on a
Max Pemberton single that plated
Dillon Martin after a leadoff double.
Bryce Didrickson broke the tie with a leadoff solo shot in the fifth but the Stags found themselves down 4-2 after a messy bottom of the frame.
CMS pulled back level after loading the bases without any outs in the seventh inning, though only got two runs across the plate on a fielder’s choice error before a double play ended the potential for a big inning. The Stags only needed to wait another half-inning to take control of the game, however, as another Didrickson homer made it 6-4 and another pair of runs crossed via fielder’s choice and a Pemberton single for the four-run lead.
Unwilling to give in still, Kean led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a triple and got the go-ahead run into the batter’s box after another error allowed one run to score before another on a sacrifice fly.
Jacob Young took the mound in relief with runners on the corners and promptly hit the first batter faced, but settled in and struck out two hitters looking to get out of trouble and secured the win in the ninth.
Didrickson ended the game 3-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and two runs while
Alex Henderson got familiar treatment with three walks while batting 1-for-2.
Bryant Smaaladen earned the win via 2.2 innings without surrendering an earned run, though two crossed on just a walk and one hit.
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