The Mission University baseball team played at the 2026 NCCAA World Series Monday afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri, battling No. 6 seed Southwestern Christian University in a tightly contested matchup before falling 5-4 at UYA – Motley Field.
Mission, the No. 2 seed in the tournament field, traded momentum throughout the afternoon and carried a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning before Southwestern Christian responded with a four-run frame to take control.
Patriots Strike Early
The Patriots broke through in the fourth inning before adding two more runs in the fifth to grab the early advantage. Kaedan Thompson delivered one of the biggest swings of the game with a two-RBI double, while Kadean Jacobs added an RBI double of his own.
Clay Palen led Mission offensively with a 2-for-4 performance and an RBI, while Thompson, CJ Miser, and Jacobs each added hits.
Mission finished with five hits and pushed across four runs despite striking out 10 times against the Southwestern Christian pitching staff.
Mulholland Battles on the Mound
Trey Mulholland gave the Patriots seven innings on the mound, striking out five while allowing five runs on 10 hits. The senior worked around multiple traffic situations early and kept Mission in front through five innings.
Garrett Hunter came on in relief and tossed a scoreless eighth inning with one strikeout to keep the Patriots within one run entering the ninth.
Looking Ahead in the World Series Bracket
With the loss, Mission moves into an elimination matchup Tuesday afternoon against No. 8 seed Nelson University American Indian College. The winner advances to continue play in the NCCAA World Series bracket.
The Patriots entered the national tournament after a strong season that included an AMC Tournament Championship appearance and another 28-win campaign under head coach Randy Merryman. Mission is seeking another deep postseason run after finishing as NCCAA World Series runner-up last season.
Broadcast Storylines / Talking Points
- Mission entered the NCCAA World Series as the No. 2 overall seed.
- Trey Mulholland continues to lead Mission as both a frontline pitcher and middle-of-the-order bat.
- Mission showed resilience after trailing early, taking a 3-1 lead midway through the game.
- Kaedan Thompson delivered a key two-RBI double in Mission's biggest offensive inning.
- The Patriots now face elimination baseball with a matchup against Nelson University American Indian College.
- Head coach Randy Merryman continues to guide one of the NCCAA's most consistent programs.
- Mission has experience playing under postseason pressure after multiple deep runs in recent years.
