CARY, N.C. (June 3, 2025) – East Region champion Felician University, an at-large representative from the Central Atlantic Collegiate conference, was eliminated from the 2025 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship on Monday afternoon. The Golden Falcons, the No. 8 seed for the national finals, were defeated by No. 4 seed University of Texas at Tyler, 6-2, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The tournament is being hosted by the University of Mount Olive.
UT Tyler is ranked No. 4 and Felician No. 15 in this week’s national Division II coaches’ poll. The Golden Falcons, who won a regional championship for the first time in the program’s 26-year history, complete the 2025 season with a won-lost record of 43-22.
The Patriots (49-12) broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning on a three-run home run by Drew Schmidt. Felician, playing as the home team, threatened in the seventh inning, scoring a run to close to within 4-2, but left the potential tying runs on base. UT Tyler tacked on two runs in the top of the ninth. Luis De La Cruz had a double and a home run for the Golden Falcons.
Felician is the second CACC team, and the first in 10 years to play in the Division II Baseball Championship finals. Wilmington University was the East Region champion in 2015.
The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its affiliation with NCAA Division II. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – eight for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 12 members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.