Early Brayden Woodburn Home Run Leads Tampa to Lopsided Win in NCAA Championships Opener

CARY, N.C. — The No. 2 University of Tampa baseball team opened play at the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship Series with a 13–2 victory over No. 7 Bentley University on Saturday night at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.

The two-time defending national champion Spartans improved to 47–8 overall and advanced in the winners' bracket of the national championship tournament. Tampa will face No. 6 seed Point Loma Nazarene University on Monday at 6 p.m.

The Spartans, owners of an NCAA Division II-best 10 national championships, remain in pursuit of becoming the first program in division history to win three consecutive national titles.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Tampa 13, Bentley 2
Records: Tampa (47–8), Bentley (44–16)
Location: USA Baseball National Training Complex | Cary, N.C.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Tampa wasted no time taking control in the opening inning.

Jordan Evans reached base before Brayden Woodburn launched a two-run home run to left center, giving the Spartans an early 2–0 advantage.

The Spartans added another run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Jhoander Irigoyen before erupting for seven runs in the third inning to break the game open.

Gunnett Carlson opened the inning with a double before Jesse Ponce delivered an RBI single up the middle. Jack Martinez followed with another run-scoring single, and Evans lined an RBI double into left center to extend the lead.

After Irigoyen added another sacrifice fly, Jake Books drove in a run with a single before Walker Vanecek capped the inning with a two-run single, pushing Tampa's lead to 9–0.

The Spartans added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Books and extended the advantage again in the seventh when Ponce delivered a two-run single through the left side.

Bentley scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but Tampa closed out the convincing 13–2 victory to begin championship play.

ON THE MOUND

Robert Satin delivered another dominant postseason start, improving to 13–2 after tossing 5.0 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits.

Oscar Hernandez followed with 2.0 shutout innings in relief, while Cade Drohan, Corey Lyle, Alex Laiche, and Kenney Robinson combined to finish the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS

Brayden Woodburn: 3-for-3, HR, double, 2 RBI, 4 runs scored, 2 BB — reached base five times
Walker Vanecek: 3-for-6, 2 RBI — key production in decisive third inning
Jesse Ponce: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, walk — drove in multiple runs late
Jake Books: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, double — continued strong postseason stretch
Jordan Evans: double, RBI, 3 runs scored, stolen base — ignited offense from leadoff spot
Jhoander Irigoyen: double, 2 RBI, two sacrifice flies — productive middle-order performance
Gunnett Carlson: double, 3 BB — constant offensive pressure
Jack Martinez: 2-for-4, RBI — contributed during seven-run third inning
Nik Pereira: 2 BB, run scored — reached base twice in reserve role
Jake Turer: pinch-hit single in the eighth inning

Pitching:
Robert Satin (W, 13–2): 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H
Oscar Hernandez: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K
Kenney Robinson: 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 K — closed out victory

NOTES

Tampa totaled 16 hits and 10 walks while scoring 13 runs in the national championship opener.

Friday's opening-round action saw No. 5 seed UT Tyler defeat No. 4 seed Central Missouri, 8–3, while No. 1 seed West Chester earned a 12–3 victory over No. 8 seed UIndy. Earlier Saturday, No. 6 seed Point Loma Nazarene advanced with a win over No. 3 seed Catawba, setting up Monday's winners-bracket matchup against Tampa. The opposite side of the bracket continues on Sunday with elimination and winners-bracket contests among Central Missouri, UIndy, UT Tyler, and West Chester as teams continue their pursuit of a national championship berth.

Tampa continues to build on one of the most successful postseason traditions in NCAA Division II baseball history. The Spartans own an NCAA-record 10 national championships and are making their 40th NCAA Tournament appearance. Tampa also captured its 22nd NCAA South Regional/Super Regional title this season and carries an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 164-69 into championship play.

UP NEXT

Tampa advances to the winners' bracket and will face Point Loma Nazarene University on Monday at 6 p.m. at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.