History Made, Greenville and Webster Headed to Nationals

For the first time in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) baseball history, two teams have been selected to participate in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship in the same season; Greenville College and Webster University.

Not only is this the first time two SLIAC baseball teams have made the national tournament in the same year but this is just the third time overall the SLIAC has had multiple teams represent the conference in the same postseason. In 1991 and 1992 both Fontbonne University and MacMurray College advanced to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer National Championship in back-to-back years.

"This is an exciting time for SLIAC Baseball, two teams receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament speaks volumes about the level and brand of baseball that is being played. I know Greenville College and Webster University will represent the SLIAC well; both programs are full of talented student-athletes," said SLIAC Commissioner Angie Morenz.

The Greenville baseball squad captured the conference's automatic qualifying bid when they won the 2015 SLIAC Tournament this past weekend. This is the first time the Panthers have made it to the national tournament. Greenville carries a 22-19 overall record into the tournament and are the #6 seed in the field. They will face top seeded Wisconsin-Stevens Point in their opening game at 12 p.m. on Wednesday. Wisconsin-Stevens Point comes in with a 33-9 overall record.

Webster earned an at-large bid into the baseball tournament after going 30-13 overall this season and finishing with the best record in the SLIAC with an 18-4 mark. Webster picked up an at-large bid this year after having their streak of five SLIAC Tournament titles snapped last week. This will be the 10th time in the last 11 years the Gorloks have made it to the national tournament. They are the #2 seed in the region tournament and will face #5 seed Carthage at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Carthage is currently 28-13 overall this season and won the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

Greenville and Webster were placed in the Central Region bracket by the NCAA Division III committee. The regional will be played at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa and hosted by Wartburg College. Other teams in the Central Region include Anderson University (Ind.), Carthage College, Wartburg College, and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Anderson is 31-11 overall and are the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference champions, seeded #4. Wartburg is the #3 seed after going 32-12, receiving an at-large bid after falling in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. Fans can follow all games either by LIVE STATS or VIDEO

CENTRAL REGION TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
GAME #1 -  Greenville vs. Wis. Stevens Point – 12:00 p.m.
GAME #2 -  Carthage vs.  Webster – 3:30 pm
GAME #3 - Anderson (IN) vs.  Wartburg – 7:00 pm
 
THURSDAY, MAY 14
GAME #4 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser, Game 2 – 12:00 noon
GAME #5 – Loser, Game 3 vs. Winner, Game 1 – 3:30 pm
Game #6 – Winner, Game 2 vs. Winner, Game 3 – 7:00 pm
 
(If four teams remain after Game 6, the following procedure will be observed)
 
FRIDAY, MAY 15
GAME #7 – Winner, Game 5 vs. Winner, Game 6 – 12:00 noon
GAME #8 – Winner, Game 4 vs. Loser, Game 6 – 3:30 pm
GAME #9 – Loser, Game 7 vs. Winner, Game 8 – 7:00 pm
 
SATURDAY, MAY 16
GAME #10 – Winner, Game 7 vs. Winner, Game 9 – 12:00 noon
GAME #11 – If necessary, same teams as in Game 10 – 30 minutes following Game 10
(If five teams remain after Game 6, the following procedure will be observed)
 
FRIDAY, MAY 15
GAME #7 – Loser, Game 5 vs. Loser, Game 6 – 12:00 noon
GAME #8 – Winner, game 4 vs. Winner, Game 5 – 3:30 pm
GAME #9 – Winner, Game 6 vs. Winner, Game 7 – 7:00 pm
 
SATURDAY, MAY 16
 
(If two teams remain after Game #9 – the following procedure will be observed)
 
GAME #10 – Winner, Game 8 vs. Loser, Game 9 – 12:00 noon
GAME #11 – Winner, Game 9 vs. Winner, Game 10 – 3:30 pm
 
(If three teams remain after Game #9, the following procedure will be observed)
 
GAME #10 – Winner, Game 8 vs. Loser, Game 9 – 12:00 noon
GAME #11 – Winner, Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 – 3:30 pm