Closed School Remains Alive in Division III College World Series With Walk-Off Homer

Patrick Andres | Jun 1, 2024

Jun 18, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; General signage outside the stadium for the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. / Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

If you look on Birmingham-Southern College Wikipedia page, you'll find a lot of past tense: Birmingham-Southern was this. Birmingham-Southern was that.

Fortunately, despite the tiny liberal arts college's closure on Friday, the school's baseball team very much still is.

The Panthers defeated Randolph-Macon 9-7 Saturday in nine innings to remain alive in the Division III College World Series. First baseman Jackson Webster was the hero, clubbing a walk-off home run to prolong his school's existence another day.

Birmingham-Southern's story has made waves throughout the baseball world, as the team tore off 19 wins in 23 games after news of its school's closure became public.

Jackson Webster's dad says, "Do your job, Jackson!" And he does! He blasts a two-run walkoff home run and @BSCsports is still alive! Final: Birmingham-Southern 9, Randolph-Macon 7. #d3baseball pic.twitter.com/0McnlJ0WCu

— D3baseball (@d3baseball) June 2, 2024

Founded over a century ago, Birmingham-Southern has long had a degree of name recognition in the world of college sports. Its football team had credibility as a major school in the 1920s, and it briefly gave Division I a try in the 2000s.

The Panthers will play either Salve Regina or Wisconsin-Whitewater Sunday afternoon in Eastlake, Ohio.