Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs claim NAIA World Series championship

2 sources1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 1:11 PM

Last updated Jun 2, 2026

Summary

The Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs defeated the top-seeded Taylor Trojans 21-3 in the championship game of the Avista NAIA World Series held Saturday at Harris Field. The tournament was marked by numerous upsets, with lower seeds outpacing higher seeds, culminating in the Bulldogs' victory. Tennessee Wesleyan, emerging from the postseason with star players Rob Gordon and Josh Shelly returning from injury, showcased dominance throughout the tournament, including a dramatic 16-14 win over the 10th-seeded William Carey Crusaders in the third-place game. The Bulldogs' triumph highlights a remarkable run where lower seeds performed strongest since 2011, ending the series with a combined 11-8 record against higher seeds. The NAIA World Series generated significant excitement and attendance in Lewiston.

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By the Numbers
  • Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs win NAIA World Series championship
  • Defeated Taylor Trojans 21-3 in title game
  • Tournament featured multiple upsets, by lower seeds
  • Bulldogs recorded significant playoff wins, including a 16-14 over William Carey
  • Attendance at Harris Field peaked with over 3,700 fans
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  • 1:11 PMYahoo SportsTUESDAY MORNING MOUND VISIT: For nine days, Lewiston became 'Upset City' and oh, how wonderful it was
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Jun. 2—By the way the week began, the ending should have been obvious. Four games and four upsets rang in the Avista NAIA World Series — the annual small school baseball national championship extravaganza that animates the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley every May. It started unsuspectingly enough. The seventh-seeded Mid America Christian Evangels (Okla.) beat the fourth-seeded Doane Tigers (Neb.) — ...

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