EASLEY, SC -- Carolina University faced-off with #4 seed Judson University at the NCCAA World Series with a Semi-Final birth on the line. The Bruins and Eagles each entered the final game of Pool Play on Monday, May 24th with a 2-1 record in Pool A and both losses were to #1 seed Southwestern Christian University. The winner survives and advances while the loser must go home. The urgency was evident in this game and tension was high. Carolina University had been winning games with their bats, but it became clear early on that runs were going to be hard to come by. The Bruins finally broke the ice with a single run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead. Each team would scored 2 runs in the fifth inning so the Bruins held a 3-2 lead entering the seventh and final inning. The Eagles had base runners and scored a run in the top of the seventh to even the score at 3-3. Despite the advantage and momentum, CU got out of the jam and headed to extra innings. In extra innings, each team would start with a runner on second base, but the Bruins would make short work of the Eagles in the top of the 8th. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Dawson Davis came through with a walk-off single that allowed Logan Conklin to score and won the game 4-3.

Jacob Ladley rose to the challenge as the Bruins starter in this psuedo elimination game. Ladley went 6 and 1/3 innings with 6 strikeouts and allowed just 3 hits. Hunter Rhineberger came out of the pen and continued his strong post season and pitched 1 and 2/3 innings without allowing a run and earning the victory. Offense was challenging in this one, but Bryan Deegan continued to shine Deegan went 2-3 and drew a walk. Deegan was 7-10 at the plate in the 2 CU wins in Pool Play. Logan Conklin and Brendan Carroll were also reliable as each went 2-3 and stole a base. Conklin also added the only extra base hit of the day for CU as he secured a double. Josh Kent went 2-4 with an RBI. Dawson Davis' heroics in the bottom of the 8th earned him an RBI on his only hit of the afternoon.

The Bruins have now secured the second spot in Pool A that will have them cross bracket with the first place finisher of Pool B, Columbia International University. The Bruins are 0-2 against the Rams this season and will look to get their first win in the Semi-Finals and advance to the World Series Championship Game.