DECATUR, Ill. – The Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets posted an 11–1 victory over the Wartburg College baseball team in the NCAA Division III Decatur Regional final at Workman Family Baseball Field, bringing the Knights' season to a close.
Wartburg finishes its historic 2026 campaign with a 28–17 overall record, while Baldwin Wallace advances at 34–10. The Yellow Jackets capitalized on a season-high five Wartburg errors to secure the win.
Zach Byrne opened up the regional final on the hill after tossing just under 60 pitches last night. Baldwin Wallace put up three runs in the opening frame to take a quick 3-0 lead.
The Knights answered back with a run of their own in the second, as
Andrew Gallegos started the inning with a double to the left-center gap.
Tanner Jackson brought around Gallegos on a one-out single to cut the deficit to two.
Aidan Smith replaced Byrne on the mound to begin the home half of the second, picking up a pair of strikeouts to sit the Yellow Jackets down in order. Smith ended his outing with three strikeouts across three complete innings, allowing four hits on four runs, as Baldwin Wallace took a 7-1 lead with a four-spot in the fourth.
Tucker Ladeburg was able to retire the side, as he made his entrance in the fifth inning.
In the sixth, the Yellow Jackets made the call to the bullpen as
Jayden Scott led off with a five-pitch walk, and
Charlie Krueger roped a double down the right-field line to see the Knights threaten with baserunners on second and third with one out in the frame. Baldwin Wallace was able to get Jackson to ground out and
Bode Nagelmaker to fly out to keep it at 7-1.
The Yellow Jackets seized control with one run in the sixth, two in the seventh and another in the eighth to claim an 11-1 victory in the regional final.
Robinson, Jackson and Krueger each poked around two hits, while Krueger and Gallegos tallied Wartburg's extra base-hits – a double each.
Byrne (2-2) was dealt the loss, as Smith, Ladeburg,
Will DeStigter,
Nicholas Chapman,
Kam Volz and
Grant Jansen all made appearances out of the bullpen for the Knights.
NOTES
The Yellow Jackets outhit the Knights 11-to-9…season-high five errors for Wartburg…The Knights left eighth runners on the basepaths…Wartburg posts a 24-30 record in the NCAA Tournament…Most wins since 2017…Baldwin Wallace leads the all-time series 2-
