DUBOIS, PA -- The Mid-Atlantic Christian University baseball team recently made the 473-mile trip from Elizabeth City up to DuBois, Pennsylvania to compete in their third straight USCAA Baseball National Championship tournament. The six-day event is the pinnacle for USCAA baseball squads, however, MACU entered the tournament having attended two tournaments they were eligible for, however, had never had come away with a win at the tournament. That changed in the 2023 tournament.

Sunday - Day One
The event started with the home run derby and the announcement of regular season awards on Sunday evening. MACU stole the show right from the beginning as junior Jalyn Lee belted 17 home runs to win the derby and three members of the team were selected as All-Americans, highlighted by Caleb Whitley being selected second-team All-American, Jalyn Lee and Alex Miller being selected for the honorable mention squad.

Monday - Day Two
Salem 15, MACU 3
The Mustangs had some time to breathe after the festivities on Sunday evening, as they took on fellow New South Athletic Conference member Salem University in the final game of the first day of the tournament. The Mustangs broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third plating one to take a 1-0 lead. Salem answered with 10 in the top of the fourth and then outscored MACU 5-2 the rest of the way to evoke the mercy rule and win the game 15-3. In the win, Luis Angarit went 3-for-4, scoring a run and driving in two. Jacob Hurley contributed a 2-for-3 effort, scoring one, driving in three, and hitting a home run. For MACU, Jalyn Lee went yard, going 1-for-3.

Tuesday - Day Three
MACU 6, Atlantis 4
With the loss to Salem, the Mustangs were dropped into the losers bracket and had to face off against Atlantis University, an opponent that MACU had faced five other times throughout the 2023 campaign. MACU built a 4-0 lead before Atlantis got on the board with three of their own in the third. Mid Atlantic scored one in both the sixth and seventh. Atlantis scored one in the seventh and had the tying run on but could not cash in. Travis Snell went 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in one for Mid-Atlantic. Riane Franklin added two hits and one run. Justin Suarez was 2-for-4 with a run scored for Atlantis. Colin Langley received the win in the effort for the Mustangs, as they registered their first ever win in the USCAA National Tournament.

Wednesday, Day Four
MACU 7, Salem 6
They say that the toughest thing in any sport is getting the first win against an opponent. For the Mustangs in 2023, Salem University had been that team. Salem played a schedule of mostly NCAA Division II opponents and had registered a .500 record against one of the toughest schedules in the USCAA. They had already defeated MACU by scores of 17-2 and 15-3. However, they also say the third time is a charm. Salem led most of the way until the bottom of the sixth when the Mustangs plated three to take the 7-6 lead. Travis Snell and Elijah Ollman had two hits apiece for MACU. Aaron Forbes drove in three runs on a 3-for-4 effort for Salem. Jalyn Lee pitched two scoreless in the game to shut the door on Salem and register the win for the Mustangs.

Penn State Mont Alto 10, MACU 2
When you are relegated to the losers bracket, the going gets tough and for the Mustangs that meant after coming off of the high of beating Salem, they had to turn around just a few hours later and play the fourth seeded Penn State Mont Alto. The Mustangs started things off by loading the bases in the top of the first but weren't able to plate a run. Mont Alto took advantage of that opportunity, scoring one in the bottom half of the inning. MACU answered with two in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Mont Alto scored seven unanswered runs the rest of the way to secure the 10-2 victory. Eight different players had a hit for Mont Alto, but Jared Pine and Jarett Goodyear led the way with two each. For MACU, Alex Miller led the way with two hits scoring one run.

Overall Recap
Yes, the Mustangs didn't come away from DuBois with a national championship. However, for the first time, MACU tasted success and has built the building blocks for a successful program moving forward. Not only did the Mustangs show success on the field but they also received accolades throughout the DuBois area as restaurants and the host hotel took notice of the way that the program conducted themselves. The baseball program has developed a product that MACU can be proud of on and off the field. 

The trip to DuBois marked the end of the third complete season for the Mustangs. Year one, 2021, saw MACU post a 15-25 record. 2022 saw a two win improvement on the way to a 17-36 record. However, this year MACU posted a 27-26 record. An incredible jump year-over-year for such a young program.

2023 not only saw the most wins in program history but other highlights as well, including multiple wins against Division II opponents; a .500 record against NAIA programs; and taking the season series from NSAC rival and defending USCAA national champions Apprentice, three games to one.

For the Mustangs, team four looks to build on the successes of the 2023 squad. With the successes in DuBois this month, MACU has placed the USCAA on notice that they have to be prepared for the Mustangs in 2024.