Colorado Mesa’s baseball team’s bid to return to the NCAA Division II World Series for the first time since 2019 was foiled on Saturday in Grand Junction as the Mavericks dropped an 8-5 decision to Texas Tyler in the third and deciding game of the South Central super regional.  BOX SCORE

The nation’s top-ranked team entering the regionals, Colorado Mesa (53-7), had two men on in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out, but Tyler’s Noah Lindt got a game-ending double play to save the Patriots (48-12).

Combined with Thursday’s 21-15 win over Colorado Mesa at The Diamond at Hamilton Ballpark, Texas Tyler advances to the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C., for the second straight season.  The Mavericks forced the third game with a 20-4 win on Friday.