WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. — Bryan College trailed by three runs entering the seventh inning Monday afternoon and looked to be in serious trouble. Three innings later, the Lions were celebrating an 8–7 victory over fifth-seeded Central Baptist University in the Opening Round of the 2026 NAIA Baseball Championship, booking a 7:00 p.m. date with top-seeded University of the Cumberlands in the process.
It was a slugfest from the first pitch. The two teams combined for 32 hits across nine innings, with Central Baptist's Garrett Fitts going a remarkable 5-for-6 and
Will Curcio adding a home run and double in a 4-for-4 afternoon. The Mustangs outhit Bryan 20–12, yet somehow came up on the wrong end of the score.
Central Baptist starter Dylan Parton kept Bryan off-balance through six-plus innings, surrendering just four runs before exiting. But the Lions chipped away, and the seventh inning changed everything. Aaron Prince stepped to the plate with two runners aboard and drove a three-run homer to left field, flipping a 6–4 deficit into a 7–6 Bryan lead. The Mustangs answered immediately —
Will Curcio, launched a solo shot to right center to knot it at seven — but that would be Central Baptist's last gasp of the lead.
Bryan loaded the bases in the ninth against closer
Ty Johnson — who had just entered in relief — and Preston White's sacrifice fly tied the game once more. Then, in the bottom of the ninth,
Cyrus Campos drew a hit by pitch, moved up 90 feet on a
Caleb Ramsey single and watched
Denajh Williams loft a walk-off sacrifice fly to center. Ball game. Lions win, 8–7.
Johnson earned the win, improving to 6–3, while Central Baptist reliever Jamin Smith took the loss, falling to 2–2.
Cade Cook's two-run triple in the sixth had been the big blow for Bryan, and
Jayron Morris chipped in a two-run homer as well. For the Mustangs, the loss stings — they outhit their opponent by eight and still couldn't hold on — but Fitts, Curcio and Prince were all forces at the plate in a game that kept swinging momentum until the final out.
Bryan now turns its attention to an even bigger challenge. The Lions face University of the Cumberlands, the tournament's top seed, tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Williamsburg.
