In a thrilling conclusion to their underdog journey, the No. 4-seed »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ Panthers captured the NCBA Division III World Series title Sunday, May 18, with a 9-6 victory over No. 2 Robert Morris University.
The Panthers wasted no time setting the tone in the championship game. In the bottom of the first inning, John Freeman delivered a momentum-shifting 3-RBI triple that gave »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ a lead they would never surrender. That early offensive spark set the stage for a dominant performance on the mound.
Freshman right-hander Rusty Haswell was electric in relief, pitching 5.2 innings of near-flawless baseball. Haswell struck out eight, allowed just one hit, and surrendered a single run—slamming the door shut on Robert Morris and sealing »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ's place in college baseball history.
This victory not only marks a national championship for the Panthers but also highlights the grit, determination, and teamwork that defined their postseason run. Congratulations to the »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ CC Panthers—2025 NCBA DIII World Series Champions!
The »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ Panthers Baseball team will be celebrated for a phenomenal season during an exhibition game against the New Bern Southpaws on Friday, May 30. More details available at /event-calendar/60th-anniversary-baseball-game-craven-cc-vs-new-bern-southpaws.
Photos courtesy of NCBA.
