Kansas City, MO - The Eagles began the day 2-0 in the NCCAA World Series and met up with Southwestern Christian University with a chance to move to 3-0. However, a 9-2 setback put the Eagles one loss away from elimination. 

In their second game of the day, an evening rematch with Fort Lauderdale, the game had a bit of everything with a spot in the championship on the line. 

In a game filled with momentum swings, big hits, and late-inning drama, Judson showed resilience from the very beginning, overcoming an early four-run deficit before eventually delivering the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Fort Lauderdale wasted no time jumping on the board in the top of the first inning as they quickly built a 4-0 lead.

But the Eagles answered immediately with one of their biggest offensive innings of the season. Kevin Flores started the rally with a single before Allan Navarro reached on an error and Blake Stempowski was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kyle Schwartz delivered Judson's first run with an RBI single before Matt Armstrong worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-2.

Alex Wickett then delivered the biggest swing of the inning, lining a two-run single that tied the game at 4-4. Moments later, Derek Cintron ripped an RBI double down the right field line to give Judson its first lead of the night. The Eagles weren't finished there, as Flores added another RBI on a fielder's choice to complete a stunning six-run first inning and put Judson ahead 6-4 after just one inning.

Fort Lauderdale chipped away in the second inning with an RBI groundout to make it 6-5, and the game remained tight throughout the middle innings. Judson's bullpen helped settle things down after the difficult opening frame, as Carson Klausing entered in relief and delivered a crucial outing for the Eagles.

The visitors eventually tied the game again in the fourth inning on a fielder's choice, evening the score at 6-6.

Judson responded once more in the bottom of the fifth inning. Stempowski and Schwartz opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Armstrong lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Stempowski and gave the Eagles a 7-6 lead. Later in the inning, Derek Cintron singled and eventually scored alongside Austin Stone after a Fort Lauderdale error, extending the lead to 9-6.

Fort Lauderdale refused to go away as they tied the score at 9-9.  

The Eagles had chances late, but the game remained tied heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. Allan Navarro sparked the final rally with a single before Chase Reid entered as a pinch runner. Blake Stempowski followed with another base hit to put runners on first and second. Yasiel Trinidad then moved both runners into scoring position with a groundout, and Fort Lauderdale intentionally walked Matt Armstrong to load the bases.

With the season hanging in the balance, Wickett stepped to the plate and delivered once again, the biggest hit of the year, lining a single into left field that scored Reid and sent the Eagles pouring out of the dugout in celebration as Judson secured a dramatic 10-9 walk-off victory and punched its ticket to the NCCAA World Series Finals.

Wickett finished the night with two hits and three RBIs, including the game winner. Stempowski recorded two hits and scored twice, while Cintron added two hits and an RBI. Flores and Schwartz also collected two hits apiece in the win.

On the mound, Klausing gave the Eagles a huge lift with five innings of relief and six strikeouts, while Yuki Shigeyasu closed out the final 1.2 innings to help preserve the victory. 

The win is number 37 on the season for Judson. To become NCCAA World Series champions, they will need two more wins on the final day of the season. Judson will meet Southwestern Christian in the finals. To avenge their earlier loss, JU will need to defeat Southwestern Christian twice on Wednesday to be the last team standing. This year is the eighth time that the Eagles have made the NCCAA World Series, and it will be the first time for Judson in the championship finals.