James Wood graduate Colin McGuire (class of 2023) pitched the final 2.2 innings to earn the save in the University of Lynchburg's clinching victory at the NCAA Division III Lynchburg Regional on Sunday.
The sophomore right-hander entered Sunday's game in the top of the seventh inning against Emory with the Hornets (41-7), ranked fifth nationally, up 6-4 but with the Eagles already having scored four runs in the inning. Emory had the bases loaded with one out when McGuire entered.
McGuire got the first batter he faced to hit into a fielder's choice that retired the runner advancing to second and brought in a run that made it 6-5. McGuire ended the threat with a flyout to left.
McGuire retired six of the seven batters he faced in the last two innings to give Lynchburg a 6-5 win and earn his ninth save of the season, which is tied for third nationally. He struck out four batters and only gave up a two-out single in the eighth.
Lynchburg went 3-0 in the regional overall. In the Hornets' 7-6 win over Marymount on Friday, McGuire earned his eighth save of the season after entering the game in the top of the ninth. Marymount cut a 7-3 deficit to 7-6 and had a runner on first with one out when McGuire came in. After a passed ball moved the runner to second, McGuire ended the game with two strikeouts.
For the season, McGuire is 4-3 with a 2.31 ERA and .256 batting average against in 46.2 innings over 23 appearances while helping Lynchburg win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles. He has struck out 40 batters and walked 18.
Lynchburg will host Rowan in the best-of-three Super Regionals on Friday and Saturday. The Hornets are attempting to qualify for their third straight NCAA Division III College World Series. They won the title in 2023 and were one of the last four teams remaining in 2024.