CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Warren was six outs away from pulling off a major upset and keeping its epic postseason run alive.

The Warriors put up a five-spot in the top of the fifth inning to take a 5-4 lead over Bishop Watterson, the second-ranked team in all of Division III. After Carter Strong pitched a clean bottom half, Warren could feel the upset brewing.

However, the Eagles (25-3) rallied for five runs in the sixth inning to take a 9-5 lead, which ended up being the final as Warren’s season came to a close.

Brady McAninch began the sixth by reaching on an error. Caiden Holcomb followed with a triple to tie the game at 5-all. After a hit batter put two on, Caden Mangini put Watterson in front with a two-run double to make it 7-5. The Eagles added two insurance runs, and Connor Adkins-Davidson pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to secure the victory.

Strong pitched 5 â…” innings for Warren, which finished the campaign 16-15. The Warriors came out of the Southeast District as the No. 7 seed, upsetting second-seeded Miami Trace and fourth-seeded Athens along the way.

Watterson claimed a 4-0 lead in the fourth, with Mangini’s two-run single capping the outburst.

Instead of folding, Warren answered right back in the fifth. Five straight Warriors walked to begin the fifth, with Will Carte and Strong each drawing bases-loaded free passes to bring in runs and cut it to 4-2. Braylen Murray’s base knock to left made it 4-3 before Tate Jonas’s sacrifice fly tied it up. Warren wasn’t done there, as Jayce Hilverding put his club on top with an RBI single to left.

Watterson will take on London at 5 p.m. Thursday at Paints Stadium in the regional championship game.

Head coach Chad Porter’s club advanced to the Sweet 16 without a single senior on the roster. The Warriors got hot down the stretch of the regular season and carried that momentum into the tournament.