(Kansas City, MO) – Concordia baseball claimed the NCCAA World Series championship on a historic Tuesday afternoon.  The Cardinals first downed #3 seed Northwestern 6-1, winning a rematch of their only loss in the tournament.  CUAA then cruised to a 13-3 win over #5 Fort Lauderdale to secure the victory.

This is the second NCCAA World Series title in school history, the first coming in 2019.  Aaron West was named the Cardinals' Player of the Game for the championship match and also made the All-Tournament Team.  Joining West on the All-Tournament Team was Kyle Hebner, who was also named Tournament MVP.

Game 1 - #2 CUAA 6, #3 UNW 1

Tyson Kleinfelter pitched a complete game, racking up 13 strikeouts while allowing just 3 hits.  Kleinfelter struck out the side in the 1^st inning.

Concordia got on the board in the 3^rd when Jordan Sherman hit an RBI groundout up the middle that scored Justin Kozlowski.  Aaron West added a 2-RBI single over the shortstop that drove in Joe Jones and Jarrett Batanian.

Tyson Kleinfelter allowed his first hit in the 4^th but continued to keep the game scoreless.  The Cardinals added 3 more runs in the 6^th.  An errant throw from the catcher to first base allowed Ryan Kotecki to score.  Wild pitches allowed both Caleb Chamberlain and Aaron Brazelton to make it home in time.

Northwestern was able to score a run in the 9^th, but Tyson Kleinfelter finished the game with 2 more strikeouts to secure the win and advance the Cardinals to the championship game.

Game 2 - #2 CUAA 13, #5 Fort Lauderdale 3

Mackenzie Martin started the championship game on the mound, pitching 2 innings.  The Cardinals plated 3 runs in the 1^st, starting when James (Jimmy) Wressel hit a deep RBI single that scored Jordan Sherman.  Kyle Hebner then looped a 2-RBI single into right field driving in Ryan Kotecki and Aaron West.

Concordia struck again in the 2^nd when Joe Jones used an RBI double to score Aaron Brazelton.  After a lengthy rain delay, Jordan Sherman hit a chopper to the shortstop for an RBI single that drove in Joe Jones.  Fort Lauderdale countered with 3 runs in the bottom half.

The Cardinals responded in the 3^rd when Aaron Brazelton doubled to the left field wall scoring Kyle Hebner.  A wild pitch then allowed Justin Kozlowski to make it home.  Timothy Pomaville came in to pitch in the bottom half, picking up 13 strikeouts throughout the remaining 7 innings.

In the 4^th, Justin Kozlowski hit a 2-out 2-RBI single scoring Kyle Hebner and Calvin Syrjala.  Pomaville struck out all 3 batters in the bottom of the 4^th and the Cardinals turned a double play in the 5^th.

Justin Kozlowski hit an RBI single in the 6^th to score Calvin Syrjala.  The Cardinals added 3 runs in the 7^th, starting when Aaron West used a 2-RBI double to drive in Joe Jones and Jarrett Batanian.  James (Jimmy) Wressel then drove in West with an RBI single.

Jake Moyer made a sensational sliding catch in left field for the first out in the 7^th. Concordia continued to hold strong with Timothy Pomaville striking out the final batter of the game.  The Cardinals celebrated their World Series win for good with a 13-3 victory.