DIVISION II COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

Two more wins: Nick Ward, here taking practice swings against North Georgia last Saturday, and the West Chester University Golden Rams are two wins away from an NCAA championship at the Division II College World Series in Grand Prarie, Texas. The Rams have won both of their games in Texas, and will face Colorado Mesa or tonight at 8 p.m.

WEST CHESTER (42-1) VS. COLORADO MESA (49-11) Thursday, 8 p.m. at The Ballpark at Grand Prairie (Texas) How to Watch: The game will be streamed live on ncaa.com.

What’s at Stake: The Sixth-ranked Golden Rams are one of just two teams to advance to the double-elimination NCAA Division II Baseball Championship Semifinal round without a loss. The other is St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.). If WCU can beat the Colorado Mesa/Delta State (Mississippi) winner, it will advance to the finals, which begin Friday. A loss would drop the Rams into the consolation round.

History: West Chester won the Division II National Championship in 2012 under rookie head coach Jad Prachniak. With a perfect 6-0 mark in the 2017, Prachniak is now 16-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament. The Rams went 4-0 en route to the Atlantic Region title and a berth into the eight-team College World Series. In Grand Prairie, WCU is 2-0 with an opening round 9-4 win over No. 3 North Georgia on May 29, and a 5-2 victory against 20th-ranked Lindenwood (Missouri) on Monday. In both games, the Rams staged come-frombehind triumphs. West Chester scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to top North Georgia. And two days later, Jared Melone’s grand slam erased a 3-0 deficit.

PHOTO COURTESY WEST CHESTER ATHLETICS

PHOTO COURTESY WEST CHESTER ATHLETICS WCU head coach Jad Prachniak talks strategy with his pitchers in the bullpen prior to West Chester’s opening game of the Division II National Championships against North Georgia last Saturday.