Posted: May 21, 2024

Richland to Open World Series with DuPage Saturday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dallas College Richland's baseball team will meet College of DuPage at 11:45 a.m. CT Saturday in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III World Series at Falcoln Park in Auburn, New York.

The Thunderducks (40-18) are the No. 2 seed in the national tournament – their first trip in 15 years. DuPage enters the eight-team national championship field with a 31-16 record.

Richland is coming off a South Central District title Sunday, and boasts the nation's fifth-highest scoring offense. The Thunderducks, who've scored 540 runs, put up 17 runs in the district title game. DuPage enters the tournament ranked 16^th in runs scored at 417. The Thunderducks are second in hits (672) and sixth in batting average (.354). DuPage is 13^th in hitting (.337) and 15^th in hits (480).

Offense aside, it's the pitching and defense that makes the biggest impact on the big stage. Lately, Richland's pitching has been clutch. The Thunderducks have allowed one run or less in three of their past five games, with two shutouts during that span – including a 7-0 blanking of No. 2-ranked Dallas College Eastfield in the district semifinals. DuPage has surrendered two runs or less in four of its last five games, also putting up two shutouts.

Richland's staff has an earned run average of 4.94. DuPage has a 6.26 ERA.

A win over DuPage could set up a rematch with Eastfield in the second round of the World Series 3 p.m. CT Sunday.