Box Score CARY, N.C. – Matt Bowles drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the top of the 12th and tournament Most Valuable Player Matt Chavarria pitched four scoreless innings in relief as nationally sixth-ranked Southern Indiana captured its second national championship in the last five years with a 12-inning 3-2 victory over fourth-ranked Colorado Mesa in the Championship Game of the 2014 NCAA Division II Baseball National Finals Saturday at USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. The National Finals were co-hosted by University of Mount Olive and Town of Cary.
 
The contest was the third extra-inning Championship Game in the 46-year history of the NCAA II Baseball Finals and matched the longest game in number of innings. The announced attendance of 2,848 was the highest for the Championship Game since the National Finals moved to Cary in 2009 and is the 11th highest all-time.
 
Chavarria (5-0) and Colorado Mesa's Matt Allen (7-2) were locked in a pitcher's duel in relief until Andrew Cope was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the 12th inning. After Cope advanced to second on Chavarria's sacrifice, pinch-hitter Bryce Shoulders was intentionally walked with first base open. Ryan Bertram's soft liner on a 10-pitch at bat landed on the left field grass, but nearly turned into a force out at third when Cope was decoyed into going back to second. Cope beat the throw to third to load the bases.
 
After missing the first pitch, Bowles took four straight balls to bring in Cope with the go-ahead run. Allen prevented further damage with a called strikeout and an infield popout.
 
Colorado Mesa (47-13) threatened in the bottom of the 12th as Garrett Carpenter drew a leadoff walk. Austin Kaiser nearly turned a sacrifice into a bunt single, but was called out on a close play at first. After advancing to second on the sacrifice, Carpenter moved to third on a groundout to put the tying run 90 feet away. But Chavarria sealed the win with an infield popup.
 
Southern Indiana (49-13) became the first team to win two national championships at Cary. The Screaming Eagles won in 2010.
 
Southern Indiana took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Kyle Kempf drew a leadoff walk and went to second on Cope's sacrifice. Chavarria lined a double to the left field corner to put the Screaming Eagles on the scoreboard.
 
Colorado Mesa played small ball in the bottom of the third and took advantage of a pair of throwing errors to score two unearned runs. Austin Wallingford led off with a bunt down the third base line and went to second on a throwing error. Wallingford scored on another throwing error on Kevan Elcock's bunt. Elcock went to third on a sacrifice and scored on Kaiser's single down the left field line to put the Mavericks on top 2-1.
 
The score remained the same until a Maverick error in the top of the eighth allowed Southern Indiana to tie the game. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Chavarria beat out a bunt single and Kempf scored from second when the throw to first was off target. Allen, the third Colorado Mesa pitcher, took over and ended the threat with two force outs and a strikeout.
 
Southern Indiana stranded two runners in the ninth, while Colorado Mesa stranded two runners in the 10th and 11th innings. Southern Indiana nearly scored a go-ahead run in the top of the 11th after Hamilton Carr and Brad Wannemuehler executed a double steal to give the Screaming Eagles runners on second and third with two outs. Kempf hit a slow chopper to third, but Maverick backup third baseman Tony Audino bare-handed the ball and Kempf was called out on a close play at first.
 
The Mavericks got the winning run on third base in the bottom of the 11th as Garrett Woodward singled with one out and eventually advanced to third after Southern Indiana had to settle for a force at second on a potential double play ball. Sergio Valenzuela hit a slow roller to the right side that took the first baseman off the bag, but Chavarria – who played the first eight innings at shortstop – covered the bag and took the throw from second baseman Caleb Eickhoff.
 
Chavarria and Carr combined for six of Southern Indiana's eight hits with three hits apiece. Valenzuela and Wallingford paced Colorado Mesa's eight-hit attack with two hits apiece.
 
Saturday's contest was the first 12-inning Championship Game since Florida Southern defeated Sacramento State 5-4 in 1988. It was the first Championship Game to go extra innings since Tampa beat Chico State 3-2 in 10 innings in 2006.
 
Southern Indiana placed four players and Colorado Mesa had three players on the 11-player All-Tournament Team. Lander, Minnesota State, Seton Hill and Tampa were also represented on the All-Tournament Team.
 
All-Tournament Team
Matt Chavarria, Southern Indiana – Most Valuable Player
Giovanny Alfonzo, Tampa
Kyle Davis, Colorado Mesa
Nolan Johnson, Minnesota State
Austin Kaiser, Colorado Mesa
Kyle Kempf, Southern Indiana
Colby Painter, Lander
Taylor Schmidt, Seton Hill
Garrett Woodward, Colorado Mesa
Brent Weinzapfel, Southern Indiana
Ben Wright, Southern Indiana