Gallery: (5-8-2026) Baseball NCAA Tournament Games
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Maryville College saw its historic 150th baseball season come to a close Saturday at the NCAA Tournament Lynchburg Regional, as the Scots battled through two difficult matchups against nationally competitive opposition in Lynchburg, Virginia. Maryville first dropped an 18-1 decision to the #2 overall seed University of Lynchburg before nearly rallying from a late deficit in a 9-6 elimination-game loss to Christopher Newport University.
Despite the results, the weekend marked another milestone chapter for one of the most successful senior classes in program history, a group that helped elevate the Scots into a perennial regional contender with two NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Regional victories, two regular-season conference championships, and a CCS Tournament title during their careers.
Against Lynchburg, the Scots ran into an explosive offensive performance from the Hornets, who collected 23 hits, including two triples and a home run, in the 18-1 victory at Bank of the James Stadium. Lynchburg broke the game open in the third inning with a string of extra-base hits and run-scoring singles. Sean Pokorak delivered a two-run triple to right-center before Kyle Flora followed with another triple. Ryder Warren and Kyle Moshier each added RBI singles, while Jack Pokorak capped the inning with a two-run base hit to extend the advantage.
Maryville managed eight hits in the contest but struggled to capitalize on opportunities throughout the afternoon. Colin Dunworth singled and later scored on a balk in the fourth inning for the Scots' lone run. The Scots threatened again in the eighth when Irvin Hernandez walked, and Luke Wright singled to help load the bases, but Lynchburg escaped the jam to preserve the margin.
Det Dettwiller paced Maryville offensively with two hits, while Masin Hall added a double. Frank Derner reached base twice with a hit and a walk, and Dunworth contributed a hit and scored the Scots' lone run.
Titus Torbett started for the Scots and struck out one over the opening inning. Gavin Mohrman followed in relief before Cody Boisvert worked 3 2/3 innings. Jalon Page closed the final 2 1/3 innings for Maryville.
With their backs against the wall later Saturday, the Scots returned to the field for an elimination matchup against Christopher Newport and delivered one final fight that reflected the resilience of the program's senior leadership.
Maryville grabbed the early lead in the second inning when Frank Derner singled, moved to third on an Irvin Hernandez base hit, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Lucas Mendoza. Hernandez's hit marked his 40th of the season.
Christopher Newport answered in the third with four runs, using a two-run single by S. Benedict and a two-run double from A. Maxie to seize control. Brayden Evans later tripled for the Scots in the third inning, but Maryville was unable to fully capitalize on the scoring opportunity.
The Scots chipped away in the fifth when Luke Wright walked, advanced into scoring position, and eventually crossed home on a Det Dettwiller groundout to trim the deficit to 4-2. Hall's fifth-inning single also gave him 60 hits for the season, while Wright finished with a season-high two runs scored.
Christopher Newport extended the lead in the eighth inning, taking advantage of two Maryville errors and an RBI single from Maxie to push the margin to 7-2.
Still, the Scots refused to go quietly in the ninth.
Maryville loaded the bases and began an impressive comeback attempt when Logan Krause was hit by a pitch to force home a run. A wild pitch plated another before Derner reached on an error that scored two more runs and suddenly cut the deficit to three. The rally ultimately fell short, however, as Christopher Newport secured the 9-6 victory to end the Scots' season.
Logan Denton started for Maryville and struck out five over three innings. Xavier Resto delivered another strong postseason relief appearance, allowing just one earned run over 5 1/3 innings while striking out two in his 71st career appearance. Torbett and Pete Pappas combined to finish the game with scoreless relief, with Pappas recording a strikeout in the ninth.
Dettwiller continued his torrid finish to the season with two more hits and an RBI, recording his 100th career hit while extending his streak of multi-hit games to four straight. Evans added a triple, while Hall reached base three times with a hit and two walks. Wright drew two walks and scored twice.
After the game, Head Coach Clint Helton reflected emotionally on the impact of the senior class that helped reshape the trajectory of the program.
"These guys have been here four years, and they're the ones that changed the program," Helton said. "When your best players are your best people, it completely changes the culture and program."
Helton praised the group not only for their accomplishments on the field, but also for the leadership and servant mentality they modeled every day within the program.
"They are the most servant leaders I have probably coached in my career," Helton said. "These guys are the first ones to arrive every day, and they are the last ones when we stack our jerseys at the end of the day for laundry."
Colin Dunworth reflected on the life-changing experience the program provided.
"It changed my life," he said. "I'm a completely different person now than I was when I showed up. I've learned so much, made friends, and made memories I'll never forget."
Xavier Resto emphasized the example he hopes the group leaves for the younger players moving forward.
"I hope they see how we treat people every day," he said. "Not just in baseball, but in life — making good impacts on people, being the best person possible, and putting teammates and others before ourselves."
The Scots close the 2026 campaign having firmly established themselves on the national stage, building on consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and continuing the upward trajectory of one of Division III baseball's emerging programs.
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