The Tennessee Wesleyan University baseball team's attempt to win the NAIA World Series for the second time in four years came to an end late Wednesday night in Lewiston, Idaho, where the Bulldogs lost 8-7 in 10 innings to top-ranked Southeastern University of Lakeland, Florida.
The Fire (58-3) moved on to face No. 3 Lewis-Clark State (57-6) in the championship round of the double-elimination event that began last weekend with 10 teams in the bracket. Southeastern beat Lewis-Clark State - the tournament host with a record 19 championships - 9-5 on Tuesday.
No. 2 TWU (56-8) lost its World Series opener last Saturday to Faulkner of Montgomery, Alabama, before winning two games in the losers bracket to reach the tourney semifinals. Dan Sayre led the Bulldogs against the Fire with four RBIs and three hits, including a three-run homer.
The Bulldogs were making their sixth appearance in the event, having won the title in 2012 and 2019. The NAIA World Series was not held in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and last year's championship was won by Georgia Gwinnett.