The Selma University Bulldogs run in the USCAA Small College World Series in Dubois, Pennsylvania, came to an end Wednesday night after a 7-5 loss to the Apprentice School.

“I’m proud of my guys for battling against the odds and fighting hard,” Selma U head baseball coach Adrian Holloway said. “I’m just proud my guys for fighting hard, overcoming adversity, showing perseverance and representing Selma University and the city of Selma well. We had a good run.”

The Bulldogs won its first two games of the World Series tournament against the defending champion College of St. Joseph’s Vermont and the No. 2 seed Apprentice School this past Monday and Tuesday, but were sent to the loser’s bracket by the home town team, No. 6 seed Penn State Dubois, late Tuesday night in a 7-3 loss.

In its first win-or-go-home game against No. 8 seed Mississippi University for Women on Wednesday morning, Selma U rallied back from an 6-1 deficit to win the game.

A fielder’s choice play and a fielding error brought the Bulldogs back within two runs in the top of the sixth inning, but a home run in the bottom half gave Mississippi University for Women a 7-4 lead going into the seventh.

However, another fielding error allowed the Bulldogs to cut the lead to 7-6 before Rickey Butts was able to get a single to the left side of the field that drove in two runs and gave Selma U an 8-7 win.

“We were fighting for our playoff lives in that game,” Holloway said. “My guys refused to lose. They had pride and bragging rights on the line, and we were fighting to see another game in the tournament. When we got down, they didn’t give up.

That win setup the re-match with Apprentice School, who Selma U defeated 2-1 this past Tuesday.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the Apprentice School was able to rally in the seventh inning and win the game 7-5.

The Bulldogs (16-13) came a long way from the start of the season, and proved that they were a worthy team to be selected into the tournament. As the No. 10 seed, the Bulldogs made a lot of noise at the USCAA Small College World Series and disrupted the bracket from the very beginning.

“This just further proves that we can play with anybody on any stage,” Holloway said. “No matter how big or how large, we can play the game of baseball. We have a pretty good baseball club, and I think we proved that this week.”