Columbus State's Taylor Groce hit two home runs, leading the school to its first NCAA Division II Baseball Championship June 2 in Mongomery, Alabama. Columbus State defeated Cal State Chico, 5-3, before 1,653 fans at Patterson Field, capping a turnaround tournament for the Cougars.

The Cougars, who won a school-record 48 games this season, dropped the opening game in Montgomery to Central Missouri State, requiring the squad to win five straight games for the title. The five victories came in dramatic fashion. Three of the wins were come-from-behind victories and two were walk-off triumphs.

Just getting to the final round was less than certain for Columbus State, which was 4-6 in conference play in mid-March. The Cougars were the third seed in the South Atlantic Regional and won three straight in the tourney, including a rally from a 7-1 deficit in the eighth inning of the regional final.

Groce broke a 1-1 tie in championship game's fifth inning with a round-tripper. Jay Bayer followed with a solo shot, giving Columbus State (48-15) a 3-1 lead. Groce also hit a solo home run in the ninth, finishing the game 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI.

Chico State (55-10) didn't go down without a fight. The team loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and pinch-hitter Jimmy Lintt smacked a drive to the warning track in center field, scoring one run. A second run was plated on an infield error.

Then Columbus State starter Jason Burdette got the next two batters to fly out, and the celebration was on.

Burdette scattered eight hits, striking out three, to earn his second win of championship week.

Columbus State freshman relief pitcher Brian Baker was the tournament's most outstanding player. In five appearances, Baker was 3-0 with a save and an earned run average of 1.42. In 12 2/3 innings of work, Baker struck out 14 while walking just four.

The all-tournament team featured Columbus State's Burdette, Baker and Groce, as well as second baseman Josh Maner, third baseman Ladd Hammond, shortstop Chris Gilstrap and outfielder Shawn Sewell. Cal State Chico placed outfielder Steve Newson and designated hitter Jeff Walker, and Massachusetts-Lowell placed catcher Matt Tupman and first baseman Michael Regan.

Game No. 1

Glenn Woolard, Rob McCuen (8) and Clay Kuklick; John Barnett, Gabriel Rio (3), Ryan Cahalan (4), Trent Tyler (5), Jason Mack (8), Corey Perkins (9) and Everett Jones. W -- Woolard. L -- Barnett. T -- 3:27. A -- 859.

Game No. 2

Adam Montarbo, Nic Amanno (7), Scott Honsowetz (8) and Rusty Kawachi, James McCabe; Steve Palazzollo, Patrick Shirley (7) and Matt Tupman. W -- Montarbo. L -- Palazzollo. S -- Honsowetz. T -- 2:34. A -- 1,482.

Game No. 3

Ryan Hartzell, Larame Woodruff (7) and Josh Gaub; Nathan Price, Reeves Smith (3), Joel Lyons (7) Joseph Davenport (9) and Craig Newton. W -- Hartzell. L -- Price. S -- Woodruff. HR -- Brock Wiskochil (A); Brandon Cornell (A); Edwin Maysonet (DS); Criag Newton (DS). T -- 2:52. A -- 1,065.

Game No. 4

Jason Herz, Eric Horner (8) and Brandon Pugh; Scott Sears, Jason Burdette (7), Brian Baker (8), Hurston Pittman (9) and Andrew Ginther. W -- Herz. L -- Burdette. T -- 2:41. A -- 1,565.

Game No. 5

David Williamson and Matt Tupman; Jesse Moody, Justin Smetana (1), Ryan Thompson (5), Corey Perkins (7), Trent Tyler (8), Brian Reeves (8) and Ryan Anderson. W -- Williamson. L -- Moody. HR -- Justin Hancock (FS). T -- 2:49. A -- 768.

Game No. 6

Paul Garber, Rob McCuen (4), Eric Mills (9) and Clay Kuklick; Brian Thomas and Rusty Kawachi, James McCabe. W -- Thomas. L -- Garber. HR -- Dave Devereux (K), Steve Newson (C). T -- 2:36. A -- 1,707.

Game No. 7

Jay Garner, Joseph Davenport (8), Dusty Hughes (9) and Craig Newton; Buck Bradberry, Hurston Pittman (7), Brian Baker (9) and Andrew Ginther. W -- Baker. L -- Hughes. HR -- Ladd Hammond (C); Taylor Groce (C). T -- 2:09. A -- 715.

Game No. 8

Jon Krugman, Mark Smithberger (4), Larame Woodruff (9) and Josh Gaub; P.J. McGinnis, Brad Doering (8), Rob Bergin (8), Eric Horner (9) and Brandon Pugh. W -- McGinnis. L -- Smithberger. S -- Horner. HR -- Nathan Moore (A); Gaub (A); Jason Herz (CM). T -- 2:33. A -- 1,559.

Game No. 9

Jason Burdette, Hurston Pittman (7), Brian Baker (8) and Andrew Ginther; Matt Haverly, Rob McCuen (6), Paul Garber (9) and Clay Kuklick. W -- Burdette. L -- Haverly. S -- Baker. T -- 2:33. A -- 663.

Game No. 10

Patrick Shirley, Dave Ouellette (9) and Matt Tupman; Ryan Hartzell, Nathan Wright (6), Ryan Douglas (8), Larame Woodruff (8), Matt Pignato (9) and Josh Gaub. W -- Shirley. L -- Hartzell. HR -- Matt Tupman (ML); Brock Wiskochil (A); Butch Kaufman (A). T -- 3:00. A -- 1,267.

Game No. 11

Patrick Shirley, Dave Ouellette (9) and Matt Tupman; Ryan Hartzell, Nathan Wright (6), Ryan Douglas (7), Larame Woodruff (8), Matt Pignato (9) and Josh Gaub. W -- Shirley. L -- Hartzell. HR -- Tupman (ML); Brock Wiskochil (A); Butch Kaufman (A). T -- 3:00. A -- 1,267.

Game No. 12

Ivan Hernandez, Nic Amanno (5) and Kurt Probasco; Brad Laurin, Steve Palazzollo (5), Dave Ouellette (6) and Matt Tupman. W -- Amanno. L -- Laurin. HR -- Rusty Kawachi (C); Ryan Tash (C); Tupman (ML). T -- 2:41. A -- 1,362.

Game No. 13

Jason Herz, Eric Horner (8), Nick Denning (12) and Brandon Pugh; Buck Bradberry, Brian Baker (9) and Andrew Ginther. W -- Baker. L -- Denning. T -- 3:24. A -- 1,417.

Championship game

E -- Hammond (CS); Sewell (CS); Wulfert 2 (CSC). LOB -- Columbus St. 5, Cal St. Chico 9. 2B -- Gilstrap (CS); Newson 2 (CSC). HR -- Groce 2 (CS); Bayer (CS). HBP -- Ginther (CS); Sutter (CS); Poole (CSC); Tash (CSC). SH -- Walker (CSC). SF -- Lintt (CSC). CS -- Ginther (CS).

W -- Burdette. L -- Montarbo. HB -- Burdette 2; Montarbo; Thomas. Umpires -- Home, Jay DeSantis; 1st, Thomas Quackenbush; 2nd, Ricky Armstrong; 3rd, Chris Coskey. T -- 2:38. Attendance -- 1,653.