Photo by Kat Moreno, Concordia (Texas) athletics

Chris Haddeland pitched more than five scoreless innings on the mound in leading Linfield to a 3-1 victory over Trinity in the final game of the NCAA Division III West Regional Baseball Tournament. With the victory, the Wildcats punched their ticket to the College World Series.

After earning a 3-2 triumph earlier in the day to force an extra game, Trinity started the scoring in the finale on a home run to left by Pat Hirschberg in the top of the second. Linfield then answered in the bottom half of the same frame when Jordan Harlow grounded out to second base with two runners in scoring position, sending Kramer Lindell home for the equalizer.

Following three scoreless innings, the Wildcats added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull away and produce the final outcome. After Corey VanDomelen and Nick Fisher hit consecutive singles, Jake Wylie blasted a shot to left to plate VanDomelen for the eventual winning run. Fisher then scored the insurance tally on a single to center by Clayton Truex.

Haddeland earned the victory for Linfield to improve his record to 13-1 this season. He allowed five hits and fanned three over 5.2 shutout frames. The sophomore from McMinnville, Oregon was also named the NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player after hurling 16 scoreless innings over three appearances and one start during the four-day tournament. In addition, Haddeland recorded 12 strikeouts and did not issue a walk while holding his opponents to a .132 batting average.

Trinity's Franklin Bay was tagged with the loss and ended the spring with a 1-1 ledger. He surrendered three hits and two runs, which were both earned, in 2.2 innings of relief.

Linfield will compete in the 2013 Division III baseball championships in Appleton, Wis.,  beginning May 24. Trinity ended its 2013 campaign with a 40-9 record. The loss continued a drought in which no Texas team has reached the Division III World Series since 2002.