COLUMBIA, Ky. – Tennessee Southern kept its season alive with an impressive upset victory over No. 8 Missouri Baptist before seeing its 2026 campaign come to a close later Tuesday evening against Johnson in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round at Sparks Park.
Tennessee Southern 8, No. 8 Missouri Baptist 3
The Firehawks wasted no time jumping on the nationally ranked Spartans, exploding for four runs in the opening inning.
Pettie singled to start the rally before McCain launched a two-run home run to right field. King later walked and came around to score, while Bodily delivered a two-run double to left center to push the lead to 4-0.
Missouri Baptist answered with a run in the bottom half, but UT Southern continued to apply pressure in the third. Singletary walked and eventually scored on a Spartan error before McDaniel drew a walk to extend the inning.
The Firehawks added two more in the fifth. Singletary again sparked the offense with a walk before Cook reached, and McDaniel ripped an RBI double to left field to extend the advantage to 7-2.
UT Southern capped the scoring in the seventh as McCain reached on an error to bring home Lindsey.
McCain led the offense with two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Bodily added a double and two RBIs, while McDaniel recorded a double and an RBI. Pettie, King, and Cook each added hits, while Singletary scored twice and reached base three times. Hall swiped two bases in the victory.
In the circle, Gilbreath tossed a complete game, allowing three runs on six hits to secure the upset victory and eliminate No. 8 Missouri Baptist from the national tournament.
Johnson 8, Tennessee Southern 6
The Firehawks carried momentum into the elimination game against Johnson, building an early lead before the Royals rallied late.
UT Southern struck first in the opening inning as Pettie worked a walk before McCain blasted a two-run home run to right center for a 2-0 advantage.
The Firehawks extended the lead in the third. Pettie reached on an error and McCain walked before Hall put pressure on the defense with a fielder's choice. Singletary later reached on an error to score a run, and Bodily followed with a two-run single to put UT Southern ahead 5-0.
Johnson chipped away with two solo home runs in the fourth before adding another run in the fifth and another in the sixth to trim the lead to 5-4.
The Royals completed the comeback in the seventh with a four-run inning to take control.
UT Southern attempted one final rally in the bottom of the seventh. Pettie singled and McCain doubled to put two runners in scoring position before Singletary drove in a run with a groundout, but the Firehawks were unable to extend the inning.
McCain again led the offense with two hits, including a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Bodily added two hits and two RBIs, while Pettie scored twice and reached base multiple times. Lindsey doubled, McDaniel added two doubles across the day, and Hall reached base and scored.
Singletary worked five innings in the circle before Gilbreath took over in relief.
The loss eliminated Tennessee Southern from the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, closing another historic season for the Firehawks. UT Southern finished the year with a national tournament appearance for the second consecutive season, a national ranking, and multiple wins over nationally ranked opponents throughout the 2026 campaign.
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