Kingsport, TN - The No. 3-seed Columbia College Cougars (43-9) defeated the No. 1-seed Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs (43-12) in a 7-2 rout in the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round. Columbia's offense produced eight hits and seven runs, while Layne Rutherford's complete-game pitching performance secured a spot in the Kingsport Bracket championship game.

Key Moments

• Bottom 4th: Dylan Carlton's two-RBI double scored Jack Matousek and Brayden McGinnis, followed by Zac Fruend's RBI triple to make it 3-0.

• Bottom 7th: Chase McKague's RBI double scored Jack Dunn, Tyler Renn's fielder's choice drove in Dunn, and Jack Matousek's two-run single scored Tyler Davis and Sutton Hanks, pushing the lead to 7-0.

Statistical Breakdown

• Batting Leaders:

  • Jack Matousek: 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 R

  • Dylan Carlton: 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R

  • Zac Fruend: 3B, 1 RBI, 1 R

  • Chase McKague: 2B, 1 RBI

  • Tyler Renn: 1 RBI

  • Jack Dunn: 2B, 1 R

• Pitching:

  • Layne Rutherford: 9.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 K

Next Game

Columbia advances to the Kingsport Bracket championship game on May 15, facing the winner of Game 7 between Tennessee Wesleyan and the Cumberland/Indiana Tech victor. A win secures a berth in the Avista NAIA Baseball World Series (May 23-31, Lewiston, Idaho).