Baseball 5/28/2026 8:37:00 PM Dalton Robertson

Patriots Set to Battle in Cary

The Patriots kick off their World Series against Central Missouri in Cary, North Carolina.

2026 NCAA DII World Series Bracket (Double-Elimination)

Game One: No. 4 Central Missouri (39-15) vs. No. 5 UT Tyler (48-12)
Friday, May 29 | 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) | Cary, N.C. (USA Baseball National Training Complex)

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ROAD TO CARY

The 2026 UT Tyler baseball program returns to Cary for the second consecutive season after putting together one of the most successful campaigns in program history. UT Tyler captured both the Lone Star Conference regular season and tournament championships for the first time ever, finishing the regular season 40-10 while never dropping a conference series all year. The Patriots went 13-5 against teams that finished inside the top five of the final LSC standings and enter the Division II College World Series just one win shy of tying the single-season program record for victories.

After hosting and sweeping their portion of the LSC Tournament, the Patriots earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA South Central Regional for the second straight year. UT Tyler opened regional play with a win over MSU Denver before battling through the elimination bracket with dominant pitching performances to advance to the Super Regional round. The Patriots then traveled to Grand Junction and defeated No. 1-ranked Colorado Mesa in a winner-take-all Game 3 on the Mavericks home field to punch their ticket back to Cary.

The Patriots are led by a veteran roster featuring 17 seniors and several of the top players in Division II baseball. Julio Garcia was named Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year, while Cole Ketzner earned LSC Player of the Year honors after helping lead one of the nation's most dangerous offenses. Connor Clark set the program's single-season stolen base record this spring, and UT Tyler enters Cary with a 3-0 record in elimination games during postseason play.

UT Tyler is making its second-ever trip to the Division II College World Series and third NCAA Tournament appearance since transitioning to Division II. The Patriots previously won the 2018 Division III National Championship in the program's final season at the Division III level.

PATRIOTS NOTES AND TRENDS

UT Tyler enters Cary with a 48-12 overall record after winning both the Lone Star Conference regular season and tournament championships. The Patriots finished conference play at 40-10 and did not lose a conference series all season.
The Patriots have been strong away from Irwin Field this season, posting a 23-7 record in games played away from home.
Head coach Brent Porche is in his 10th season leading the Patriots and owns a 343-149 record at UT Tyler while carrying a 490-232 overall career record.
In the Postseason UT Tyler ranks among the national leaders in several statistical categories entering the Division II College World Series, including:
- 4th in base on balls
- 5th in double plays turned
- 4th in hit by pitches
- 7th in hits
- 9th in home runs
- 6th in runs scored
- 9th in stolen bases
- 10th in strikeout-to-walk ratio
- 3rd in strikeouts per nine innings
Offensively, the Patriots are hitting .314 as a team with a .443 on-base percentage while scoring 547 runs and stealing 110 bases this season.
Tanner Hornback leads UT Tyler with a .364 batting average, while Cole Ketzner paces the team in both home runs (12) and RBI (65). Drew Schmidt leads the Patriots with 68 runs scored, and Connor Clark has set the single-season program record with 35 stolen bases.
Julio Garcia has been the ace of the Patriots' pitching staff, leading qualified pitchers in every major category with a 3.18 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 8-4 record, three complete games, one save, 68 innings pitched, and 61 strikeouts.
Out of the bullpen, Coleson Abel has emerged as one of the top relievers in Division II baseball, posting a 2.32 ERA with a 7-0 record and four saves across 54.1 innings. Abel has allowed just 35 hits all season while striking out 73 batters and holding opponents to a .184 batting average.
As a staff, the Patriots carry a 4.24 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP entering Cary.

THE #4 MULES

Central Missouri enters Cary with a 39-15 overall record after winning both the Central Regional and Super Regional rounds to secure its third consecutive appearance at the NCAA Division II College World Series and 22nd overall trip to the national championship site.

The Mules have been one of the most complete teams in Division II baseball this season, hitting .321 as a team while posting a 4.41 ERA on the mound. Central Missouri also ranks among the national leaders in several categories entering the World Series, including first in hits allowed per nine innings, third in stolen bases and fielding percentage, fourth in triples, seventh in WHIP, and 13th in strikeouts per nine innings.

Offensively, Central Missouri is led by Evan Vienhage, who enters the World Series hitting .391 on the season, while Sawyer Allen has anchored the pitching staff with an 8-1 record and a 2.08 ERA across 82.1 innings pitched.

Central Missouri has been especially dominant during NCAA Tournament play, going 5-0 with a 1.20 team ERA while allowing just six earned runs across 45 postseason innings.

Friday's matchup against UT Tyler (12:30 p.m. CT) will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Drew Schmidt: SS; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#10 Connor Clark: OF/INF; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#11 Tanner Hornback: IF; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#15 Coleson Abel: LHP; 5' 10"; Senior; L/L

#19 Cole Ketzner: C; 6' 1"; Senior; R/R

#51 Julio Garcia: RHP; 6' 2"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#2 Drew Schmidt
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: SS

#10 Connor Clark
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: OF/INF

#11 Tanner Hornback
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: IF

#15 Coleson Abel
: 5' 10"; Senior; L/L
: LHP

#19 Cole Ketzner
: 6' 1"; Senior; R/R
: C

#51 Julio Garcia
: 6' 2"; Senior; R/R
: RHP