In 1986, the Valparaiso baseball team won the Mid-Continent Conference championship for the first time in program history, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The team was led by head coach Paul Twenge.
In the first round of the tournament, the Crusaders faced off against the #4 seeded Arkansas Razorbacks. Despite being heavy underdogs, Valparaiso pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the Razorbacks 5-4 in 12 innings. Valparaiso pitcher Jim Smiley pitched a complete game, striking out six batters and allowing only four earned runs. The Crusaders’ offense was led by outfielder Dave Rinehart, who hit a two-run home run in the top of the 12th inning to give Valparaiso the lead.
In the second round, Valparaiso faced the #3 seeded Texas Longhorns. The Crusaders were unable to continue their Cinderella run, falling to Texas 7-2. Valparaiso finished the season with a 34-17 record, setting a school record for wins in a season.
The 1986 Mid-Continent Conference championship was the first in Valparaiso’s history, and the team’s success helped to raise the profile of Crusaders baseball. It also marked the beginning of a successful run for the program, as Valparaiso went on to win two more conference championships in the 1990s and advanced to the NCAA tournament again in 2012.