NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 15, 2026) – Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference champion Wilmington University advanced in the 2026 NCAA Division II East 1 Regional Baseball Championship tournament with a come-from-behind 6-3 victory over CACC at-large representative Goldey-Beacom College on Friday afternoon at DeFelice Field in Waltham, Mass. Goldey-Beacom was eliminated from the event later on Friday with an 11-2 loss to No. 1 seed and host Bentley University.
Wilmington now faces what turns into a best-of-three series with Bentley for the East 1 title. The teams meet on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. in Waltham. If they split, a deciding game would immediately follow on Sunday.
CACC at-large representative Felician University will also be in action on Saturday in the East 2 Regional in Uniondale, N.Y. All three teams in that event are 1-1. The No. 6 seed Golden Falcons face No. 3 seed Southern New Hampshire University at 11 a.m. The winner will stay on the field to take on host and No. 2 seed Molloy University for the right to face the Wilmington/Bentley winner in next weekend’s super-regional.
The Lightning and Wildcats were coming off their May 9 CACC championship matchup won by Wilmington. Friday saw both starting pitchers, GBC’s Connor Blence and his Wildcat counterpart, Chase Fleming, work deep into the contest. Fleming struck out 12 and allowed three hits over seven innings but departed trailing, 3-1. Wilmington (40-15) chased Blence with two eighth-inning runs to tie the score, then received a walk-off three-run home run from Brett Walmsley in the bottom of the ninth. Brian Klumpp also homered for the Wildcats. Blence yielded three runs on six hits with six strikeouts over 7 2/3 frames.
GBC took the early lead with two first-inning runs against Bentley, but never scored again. The Falcons led, 3-2, after two innings, scored three times in the fifth, then put the game away with a five-run seventh. Bobby Stewart was 2 for 2 and Roman Keith was on base three times for the Lightning, who finish 33-24.
Bentley is ranked No. 10, Molloy No. 24 and Southern New Hampshire No. 25 in the most recent national Division II coaches poll. Both East Regional Championships are three-team, double-elimination events.
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes 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.