The top two schools in the South Central Regional will compete for a spot in the NCAA Division II Baseball World Series as top-seeded Colorado Mesa (52-5) hosts second-seeded Texas Tyler (46-11) in a best-of-three series starting Thursday at 7 p.m. in Grand Junction.

Colorado Mesa, the top-ranked team in Division II and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions, extended its current winning streak to six with back-to-back home wins over St. Mary’s of Texas, 15-9 and 15-5 at The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Ninth-ranked Texas Tyler, the Lone Star Conference champions, advanced from the other South Central regional by winning three of four games, with an opening victory over MSU Denver (38-18) and back-to-back wins over Angelo State on Friday and Saturday.

It is the second-straight season the two schools have met in the regionals, as the Patriots ousted Colorado Mesa in the opening rounds with 10-4 and 14-4 victories in Tyler.  The Patriots won the 2025 South Central regional by defeating Angelo State to advance to the Division II World Series.

The 2026 NCAA Division II World Series will feature the eight regional champions and will be staged May 29 through June 6 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

Colorado Mesa, which has won four straight RMAC post-season titles and 24 overall, will be playing for its fifth berth in the Division II World Series.   The Mavericks placed second in 2014 and 2019, third in 2017, and reached the Elite Eight in 2009.

While Texas Tyler is competing in only its third NCAA Division II Championship, Colorado Mesa is playing in its 13th straight national playoffs and 25th overall.  Maverick coach Chris Hanks is in his 28th season in Grand Junction with a 1,163-433 record (.729).  Brent Porche guides the Patriots for the 10th season with a 341-148 mark (.697)