The Denison baseball team has won 44 consecutive games, tying an NCAA Division III record that it can break Friday in its College World Series opener in suburban Cleveland.
The Big Red have beaten many quality opponents, but the victory that’s provided the most satisfaction can’t be found on their schedule.
“We’ve faced some adversity over the last 12 months,” coach Mike Deegan says. “There have been obstacles and setbacks along the way, and our guys haven’t backed down. They see it as a challenge, an opportunity, and that’s been really fun to watch.”
The Big Red haven’t just overcome adversity, they’ve clobbered it — batted around the order against it.
In reaching the College World Series for a second consecutive season, they have demonstrated tremendous resilience and character in building a 45-1 record ahead of Friday’s opener against East Texas Baptist University.
They have battled through season-ending injuries to key players and witnessed the loss of three top pitchers, who entered the transfer portal last offseason.
Those are the types of hammer blows that can torpedo a promising season. The Big Red have responded with the best record in program history. The 44 straight wins have tied the national mark set by 2008 NCAA champion Trinity College.
Cade Nowik ’26 has a .340 batting average, and he delivered a walk-off single in Denison’s first NCAA tournament game. (Photo: Brandon Morgan)
“The streak is ridiculous, but we don’t really talk about it,” third baseman Cade Nowik ’26 says. “We’re focused on trying to win a national title.”
At the end of last season, the Big Red knew they had to replace star pitcher Nick Falter ’25, who’s now in the San Diego Padres organization. What they didn’t anticipate was watching three other pitchers leave the program to accept Division I offers.
“Those guys pitched close to 80 percent of our innings last season,” Deegan says. “But we preach a ‘next man up’ mentality. Guys have done a great job stepping up to meet the challenge.”
The Big Red enter the College World Series with the nation’s third-best earned run average (3.03) and third-best batting average (.358).
Denison lost its starting shortstop Alex Vasquez ’27 to injury in preseason and outstanding first-year pitcher Andrew Montero ’29 just minutes before a scheduled start in an NCAA regional game against SUNY Cortland. Robbie Lee ’26 made the emergency start, scattering four hits over 5-⅔ innings as Denison prevailed, 4-3.
After the victory, Deegan addressed the team in the dugout.
“I just thanked them,” Deegan says. “I told them, ‘you guys are giving us a real-world example in how to handle adversity.’”
The Big Red battered many opponents in the regular season, but have proven equally adept in close games. The nation’s top-ranked team won its first three NCAA tournament games with ninth-inning, walk-off hits.
Four of their five tournament victories have come by one run, including rallying from seven runs down to stun Kalamazoo College, 13-12, to advance to the NCAA Super Regional.
Erik Sundgren ’26 ranks second on the team with 54 RBI, 66 hits and nine home runs. He led the Big Red with 29 stolen bases. (Photo: Brandon Morgan)
“Winning games like that gives you the utmost confidence,” Erik Sundgren ’26 says. “We just kept chipping away. We feel like we’re never out of a game.”
In college sports vernacular, the words “team” and “program” are often used interchangeably. Deegan sees a major difference.
“We truly have a program,” says a coach who’s led Denison to three consecutive 40-plus-win seasons. “Players are always going to graduate and move on, but in good programs players have seen what success looks like and they’re ready to step up. We have a great senior class that’s incredibly selfless and understands they’re part of something bigger than themselves. And that kind of bleeds through everyone else.”
At the College World Series, the Big Red are among eight super-regional winners — four in each bracket — playing in a double-elimination tournament. The winner of each bracket plays in a best-of-three final next week. Having qualified for the CWS last year at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio, should help ease the nerves on the big stage.
“Without a doubt, that experience lets us understand what to expect,” Deegan says. “We know the routines, we’ve been through the opening ceremony. We’ve played at that stadium. So, yeah, we should at least be able to settle into a routine a lot faster.”