Albany State baseball earns a spot in NCAA national tournament

ALBANY — The Albany State Golden Rams (30-20) are back on the national stage for the first time since 2018, securing a spot in the NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament as the No. 8 seed in the South Regional.

Albany State was one of 56 Division II teams from around the nation to be selected. The announcement came during Sunday night’s NCAA selection show, and while the excitement is palpable, the challenge ahead is significant.

The Golden Rams will take on top-seeded Tampa University, the defending national champion with a 43-7 record. Yet there’s reason for optimism.

Despite Tampa’s powerhouse status, Albany State pulled off an 8-6 upset when the Spartans visited Albany in March. Now, the Golden Rams will aim to replicate that success in a high-stakes postseason setting.

“They will be a very tough opponent, especially with the way they play at home,” Albany State Head Coach Scot Hemmings said after the show. “But we are excited for the challenge.”

The NCAA announced two locations for the South Regional: Tampa and Lakeland, Fla. The University of Tampa and Albany State will play in Tampa, as will Lynn University (30-16) and Mississippi College (33-21).

Florida Southern University (36-13), the number two seed, will host in Lakeland. They will be joined by West Florida (33-19), West Alabama (32-23), and Delta State (32-18).

“It is very exciting to still be playing baseball, and it was even more exciting waiting to hear our names being called on the selection show and see which regional site we will play at,” Hemmings said.

“I told the guys last week that very few players get the chance to compete in a national tournament, and this is the beginning of the national tournament. I am glad we are getting this opportunity because they will remember this for the rest of their lives.”

Should Albany State advance, the Super Regionals would take place the following week. The national championship finals are set for June in Cary, North Carolina.

First pitch on Thursday in Tampa is scheduled for 1 p.m.