Park University baseball advances to NAIA National Tournament for first time since 2008
PARKVILLE, Mo. — For the first time since 2008, the Park University baseball team will play in the NAIA Baseball National Championship, the NAIA announced on Thursday (May 9) afternoon. The Pirates, 35-17 on the season, are one of 46 teams to advance to the national tournament. Park will begin play in an opening round double-elimination series in Williamsburg, Ky. (hosted by University of the Cumberlands), on Monday (May 13) against the University of St. Francis (Ind., 37-17) at 11 a.m. (Central time).
If the Pirates defeat St. Francis, Park will play Cumberlands (48-6) at 6 p.m. on Monday; a loss to St. Francis will send Park to the consolation bracket to play the loser of the Bellevue (Neb.) University (39-12) / Loyola University New Orleans (La., 36-17) game at 11 a.m. on Tuesday (May 14). The complete bracket is below.
Park earned an automatic bid to the NAIA national tournament by virtue of its runner-up finish in the Heart of America Conference tournament, May 2-7. The Pirates entered the HAAC tourney as the No. 4 seed and defeated No. 5 Baker University in its opening game before falling to No. 1 Central Methodist University. Park then rolled off wins over No. 8 William Penn University in 10 innings and No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene University in the consolation bracket to set up a rematch against CMU. Park guaranteed its spot in the NAIA national tourney by defeating CMU 10-9 on a solo walk-off home run by INF/OF Victor Sanchez-Ramos. The Pirates then topped No. 3 Mount Mercy University in the first championship game to force the 鈥渋f necessary鈥� game which the Mustangs won.
The Pirates are led by head coach Cary Lundy, a 1982 Park graduate who is in his 22nd year at the helm and surpassed 500 career wins earlier this year. On the field, Park is led by OF Gilberto Torres, who is hitting .411 on the season with 52 RBIs. In addition, Sanchez-Ramos is hitting .370 (.599 slugging) and has added 49 RBI and 14 stolen bases.
Williamsburg Bracket Schedule (times Central):
May 13
- Game 1, 11 a.m. 鈥� Saint Francis (Ind.) vs. Park (Mo.)
- Game 2, 2 p.m. 鈥� Bellevue (Neb.) vs. Loyola (La.)
- Game 3, 6 p.m. 鈥� Cumberlands (Ky.) vs. Winner Game 1
May 14
- Game 4, 11 a.m. 鈥� Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
- Game 5, 2 p.m. 鈥� Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3
- Game 6, 6 p.m. 鈥� Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
May 15
- Game 7, 11 a.m. 鈥� Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 5
- Game 8, 2 p.m. 鈥� Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 5
May 16 (if necessary)
- Game 9, 11 a.m. 鈥� Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 8
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