The #1-ranked Denison baseball team gave up three runs in the top of the first inning to the #13 Wittenberg Tigers in their NCAC championship game Saturday at Chillicothe’s V.A. Memorial Stadium.

In the double elimination tourney, the Tigers had to win the first game Saturday to force a second contest. The Big Red, however, had other ideas and stormed back to win, 14-8, and nab their seventh straight conference title.

Junior shortstop Kelly Crittenberger paced the Big Red offense, hitting his fifth long ball of the season and driving in five runs. Junior outfielder Nate Lloyd also left the yard and posted two RBIs. 

Junior reliever Max Mullen, a Hilliard Darby grad, threw four scoreless innings, allowing five hits and no walks, and picked up the win. Olentangy Orange’s Devin Parker, a junior relief pitcher, blanked the Tigers in the ninth to close out the game.

The Big Red now head to NCAA play with a record of 40-1, having won their last 39 games this season. Their goal now is to get back to the Division III world series.

In 2025, they finished with a record of 41-7 and won their first ever Super Regional contest. They fell to the Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks and Rowan Profs to bow out of the double-elimination championship tournament.

The 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament selections will be announced on Monday at 12:00 p.m. EDT and can be seen via a web stream on NCAA.com.