CARY, N.C. – No. 5 UT Tyler's remarkable 2026 season came to an end Wednesday night as the Patriots fell 6-5 to No. 1 West Chester at the NCAA Division II College World Series.
The loss concludes a historic campaign that saw UT Tyler set a new single-season program record with 50 victories, win four postseason elimination games and make its second consecutive trip to Cary.
For much of the evening, it appeared the Patriots were headed toward another elimination-game triumph. UT Tyler struck first in the opening inning when Brock Bearden worked a one-out walk before Tanner Hornback followed with a bunt single. Kaston Mason then lined an RBI single into right field to score Bearden and give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead.
West Chester answered in the second without recording an extra-base hit. Two hit batters, a walk and a RBI single helped the Golden Rams push across two runs and take a 2-1 advantage.
The Patriots had few opportunities against the West Chester starter through the middle innings before Travis Bragg provided a spark in the fifth. Making his first start of the postseason, Bragg launched a solo home run down the right field line that traveled 396 feet and left the bat at 105 mph, tying the game at 2-2.
UT Tyler threatened again in the sixth after Bryce Jewell doubled with two outs sending Spencer Simpson to third, but the Golden Rams escaped the inning to keep the game even.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the seventh. Connor Clark opened the inning with a double before Hornback delivered a single to put runners on the corners. Mason then stepped to the plate and crushed a three-run homer off the scoreboard in right field. The blast left his bat at 113 mph and gave the Patriots a 5-2 lead.
The home run capped another outstanding College World Series performance for Mason, who finished the week hitting .529 with seven RBIs, five extra-base hits and a .619 on-base percentage. He recorded both a hit and an extra-base hit in all five games played in Cary.
Meanwhile, Dylan Blomquist continued his stellar postseason run on the mound. One outing after throwing eight scoreless innings against Central Missouri in the Patriots' tournament opener, the senior carried UT Tyler into the eighth inning while allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out five.
West Chester broke through in the eighth. After consecutive singles and a walk loaded the bases, the Golden Rams delivered a two-run single to trim the deficit to one. The Golden Rams followed with another bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to take a 6-5 lead.
UT Tyler had one final opportunity in the bottom half of the inning when Clark singled and Mason was intentionally walked, but West Chester worked out of the jam to preserve the lead. The Patriots went quietly in the ninth as the Golden Rams secured a spot in the national championship series.
UT Tyler finished with 13 hits, led by Mason and Drew Schmidt with multiple apiece. Clark added three hits and scored once, while Hornback collected two hits. Bragg and Mason supplied the Patriots' two home runs.
The loss ends the season with UT Tyler finishing 50-14 overall, setting a new program record for wins while becoming one of the final four teams standing in Division II baseball.
