WATERBURY, Conn. (May 8, 2026) – The two Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference teams located in New Castle County, Delaware, will meet for the 2026 CACC baseball championship on Saturday. No. 1 seed Wilmington University advanced through the winners’ bracket and No. 2 seed Goldey-Beacom College survived the elimination bracket during Friday’s play in the CACC Championship tournament at Waterbury Municipal Stadium. The double-elimination final segment of the event is being hosted by Post University.
Tournament information is available at the CACC Championship Central web page at https://caccathletics.org/tournaments/?id=32.
Saturday’s championship final will begin at the adjusted time of 9 a.m. to account for the forecast of afternoon rain. Should Goldey-Beacom emerge victorious, a second game would immediately follow. The winner will not only be named CACC champion but will earn the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Championship tournament.
Wilmington, the tournament’s defending champion, returned to the final with a 10-8 victory over Goldey-Beacom in Friday’s opening game. The Lightning then gained a rematch with the Wildcats by defeating No. 4 seed Felician University, 20-13, in an elimination contest.
Wilmington will be seeking its 12th CACC championship. Goldey-Beacom, meanwhile, is appearing in the conference final for the first time in its 10-year history. Prior to Friday’s contest, the Wildcats had won two of the three games in the teams’ 2026 regular-season series.
Tickets for the championship final of the 2026 CACC Baseball Championship are $10 for adults, and $5 for children, senior citizens (65+) and students with valid identification. Children under three years of age will be admitted free. See the Championship Central link to follow the tournament online, purchase championship apparel, and buy tickets.
No. 1 WILMINGTON 10, No. 2 GOLDEY-BEACOM 8
The Wildcats scored the game’s final six runs, including three in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead for the first time. Chase Fleming was 4 for 5 with a triple and four RBI, including a go-ahead two-run single. Wilmington’s Ryan Kiendle and Garrett Quinn combined for 3 1/3 scoreless, one-hit innings out of the bullpen, and CACC Player of the Year Tyler Pirrung collected three hits. Bobby Stewart and Shawn Roy each had two hits and two RBI for the Lightning.
No. 2 GOLDEY-BEACOM 20, No. 4 FELICIAN 13
The Lightning went ahead to stay by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 14-10 advantage. Joey Current homered and Roman Keith was 4 for 4, including a double and triple with five runs scored for GBC (33-21). Haiden Walters and Ernesto Palanco finished with three hits each for Felician (33-21).
2026 CACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round (Best-of-three series at sites of higher seeds.)
Friday, May 1
#1 Wilmington 17-9, #8 Bridgeport 8-5
#2 Goldey-Beacom 19-6, #7 Holy Family 3-5
#6 Chestnut Hill 10-3, #3 Jefferson 8-13
#4 Felician 6-17, #5 Post 5-15
Saturday, May 2
Jefferson 8, Chestnut Hill 2
Double-Elimination Tournament (Host: Post University)
Thursday, May 7 (at Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Conn.)
Game 1: Wilmington 6, Felician 5
Game 2: Goldey-Beacom 8, Jefferson 6
Game 3: Felician 7, Jefferson 5
Friday, May 8 (at Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Conn.)
Game 4: Wilmington 10, Goldey-Beacom 8
Game 5: Goldey-Beacom 20, Felician 13
Saturday, May 9 (at Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Conn.)
Game 6: Goldey-Beacom vs. Wilmington, 9 a.m.
Game 7: Goldey-Beacom vs. Wilmington, if necessary
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.