ALLIANCE, Ohio - The No. 24 nationally ranked Mount Union baseball team (28-13) defeated Grove City College 10-0 to win its first NCAA playoff game in program history in the 2025 NCAA Division III Regionals at Rafeld-Rogers Field on Saturday. In game two, the Purple Raiders fell 10-8 in a thrilling matchup with Catholic University (29-17) in the second elimination game to conclude the season.
Against Grove City, starting pitcher Jaired Lehman (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) excelled on the mound, throwing 6.0 innings with six strikeouts, allowing no runs, and achieving his first shutout and fourth win on the season. As the designated hitter, Lehman walked twice and scored a run.
The Purple Raiders began their scoring early in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI sacrifice fly by outfielder Chris Tsouras (Las Vegas, Nev. / Arbor). In game one, Tsouras went 1-for-4 at the plate, hitting a double and driving in two runs, which were his 53rd and 54th RBIs of the season. The Mount Union offense had a significant surge in the fourth inning, scoring four runs. Senior first baseman
Johnny Costella (Cleveland, Ohio / Trinity) contributed with an RBI single to right field, while sophomore outfielder Brycen Fox (Hamilton, Ohio / Badin) added an RBI sacrifice fly to center field. Senior third baseman Chris Viamonte (Miami, FL. / Coral Gables) also recorded an RBI single, this time to third base. To cap off the scoring in the inning, graduate second baseman Andrew Witte (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) hit an RBI single to center field. In the fifth inning, the Purple Raiders maintained their momentum. Senior shortstop
Alex Stegman (Berea, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) hit a solo home run. In Game One, Stegman went 3-for-5 at the plate, with a home run, a triple, and an RBI. Sophomore outfielder
Luke Ickes (Green, Ohio / Green) contributed to the scoring by hitting a two-RBI double, marking his 11th double of the season. During the sixth inning, Tsouras hit an RBI double to deep left field. The Purple Raiders then scored another run on a double play groundout by Fox. Right-handed pitcher
Christopher Maurer (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson) completed the game for the Purple Raiders, pitching 3.0 innings and recording two strikeouts. This secured his third save of the season and secured the team's 10-0 victory.
In game two against Catholic, Mount Union fell into a 7-1 hole, but they did not stop fighting. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ty Dennison (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson) pitched a strong 6.0 innings of work with nine strikeouts, allowing three runs.
Lehman had a strong game two at first base, batting 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a hit by pitch. Freshman catcher
Daniel Tome III (Lakewood, Ohio / St. Edwards) came up big twice for the Purple Raiders with two doubles. In the bottom of the ninth, Thome delivered a massive two-run double, as the Purple Raiders were down to their last out. Mount Union's rally fell just short, losing 10-8.
