NCCAA’S BEST! Jessup Baseball Tops Mission to Claim the National Championship
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The final game of the 2025 baseball season ended with a dog pile as Jessup raced onto the field in celebration of a national championship. With their 11-5 victory over the Mission Pioneers, the Warriors have closed out the first Division II season in university history on the highest note of all.
Jessup closed out the World Series with a record of 5-1, with the final three victories being in elimination games.
Thursday was the second meeting of the week between Warriors and Pioneers. Mission, who were handed their first loss of the tournament on Wednesday against Fort Lauderdale, handed Jessup its first loss in shutout fashion on Tuesday.
There would be no shutout in the second meeting between these schools, starting with Mission, who scored in the bottom of the first. Jessup countered in the second with a Nick Poss RBI single and then a two-run homer from Rudy Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s blast was his first of the season.
Poss added his second RBI in the sixth to extend Jessup’s lead to 4-2. Cody Antone added an RBI double in the seventh.
Antone’s RBI came a half-inning after the defensive play of the game as Mission launched a ball deep to right field that Antone snagged at the wall. The leaping grab robbed Mission of extra-base hits and likely the tying run crossing home.
The eighth inning saw the most offense of the day, starting with the Warriors, who pushed across five runs off five hits. Mission countered with three of their own in the bottom half to trim the score to 10-5, but in the ninth, the Warriors gained insurance off Dominic Ott’s fourth hit and second RBI of the day.
Nolan Thebiay entered the game in the ninth to slam the door, but Mission would not go quietly. A walk and a single put two runners on but then Thebiay got the ground ball he needed as Jack Grant stepped on second before firing to first to record the pair. The next batter hit a ground ball to Rodriguez at third. The throw to first was in time, ending the game and sending the Warriors racing out of the dugout.
The national championship is the first in program history and the 15th in university history.
Left-hander Tyler Lamperti earned the win in the championship game following 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Diego Chavez. Jake Morell tossed two innings out of the bullpen before handing the ball to Thebiay for the ninth.
Two Warriors were selected to the All-Tournament team. Right-hander Evan Williams earned a spot after 6.2 innings in relief. Hailama Swartman went 2-0 in the World Series, earning him Most Outstanding Player.
Jessup is now on their way back to Rocklin with trophy in hand as the Warriors’ first season of NCCAA membership ends on top.
About Jessup University
Jessup University, with three campus locations in Rocklin, San Jose, and Portland, Oregon, is a distinguished institution committed to academic excellence and transformative education. Known for its vibrant community and innovative programs, Jessup offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees designed to prepare students for impactful careers and lifelong learning. With a focus on integrating faith and learning, Jessup University fosters a supportive environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive. The university is dedicated to research, scholarship, and service, aiming to make a positive difference in the world through its academic and community endeavors.
