Salve Regina

Birmingham-Southern, which lost the national title game in 2019, advanced in the double-elimination tourney and will play the loser between Salve Regina and Wisconsin-Whitewater on Sunday.

After losing the opener to Salve Regina on Friday, the same day Birmingham-Southern officially closed its doors for the first time since 1856 due to financial hardship, the Panthers were facing a win-or-extinction situation to keep their season — and the school’s legacy — going.

The mascot didn’t help as Salve Regina built a 7-0 lead behind a three-run homer by Brady Smolinski and two-run shot by Tyler Cannoe before closer Kyle Carozza struck out the side in the ninth.

“Nobody wanted us to win,” said Salve Regina coach Eric Cirella.

The Panthers fell behind 7-0 in the fifth inning to Salve Regina but fought back in style befitting this odds-defying season.