CLEARWATER, Fla. – Charlotte’s Blake Gillespie struck out 13 and No. 2 Charlotte defeated No. 7 Wichita State on Tuesday, May 20, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.
 
With the win, the 49ers (36-20) will play against the winner of South Florida and East Carolina on Thursday, May 22 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. The Shockers (20-35) will play the loser of the Bulls and Pirates in an elimination game on Wednesday, May 21 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
 
Gillespie, the 2025 American Pitcher of the Year, set the single-game Championship record with 13 strikeouts, breaking the previous record held by Jack Jasiak for South Florida against Tulane in 2021. Gillespie (7-4) allowed one run on four hits in eight innings of work.
 
Dawson Bryce gave the 49ers the lead in the bottom of the first, driving in Juan Rivera with an RBI single. Caleb Estes and Rivera and Logan Poteet had back-to-back-to-back RBI singles in the second inning to extend the lead to 4-0, while Estes drove in two more runs in the third.
 
Grant Adler (5-6) took the loss for the Shockers, allowing six runs in 2.1 innings of work.
 
2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central
 
Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 UTSA 4, No. 8 Rice 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 2 Charlotte 7, No. 7 Wichita State 1 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 3 South Florida | 47 minutes after Game 3 | ESPN+
 
Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 8 Rice vs. No. 4 Florida Atlantic | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 6: No. 7 Wichita State vs. Loser of Game 4 | 47 minutes after Game 5 | ESPN+
 
Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: Winner of Game 4 vs. No. 2 Charlotte | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+
 
Friday, May 23
Game 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 5 | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 6 | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+
 
Saturday, May 24
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
 
Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS
 
All times listed are Eastern.