Box Score MANSFIELD, Conn. - Sophomore centerfielder Garrison Ward (Wyckoff, NJ) had a day to remember Thursday leading Western New England College to a 6-5 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University in a battle of 2004 NCAA Division III New England Regional Tournament participants.
Making his first collegiate start, Ward went 2-for-3 with four RBI, including a three-run homer, as the Golden Bears ended a 30-game losing streak to the Warriors. Last year Ward had four hits in 11 at-bats in eight contests. He was 0-for-4 with a run and RBI in three games prior to Thursday.
Ward's first career homer highlighted a four-run fourth inning and gave the Golden Bears the lead for good at 5-3. His RBI double extended the margin to 6-4 in the sixth.
Senior leftfielder Chris Mahoney (Yorkville, NY) went 1-for-4 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to 41 games.
Junior pitcher Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) went six innings to raise his record to 3-0. Freshman Chris Anderson (Moodus, CT) gained the save allowing no hits in three innings with six strikeouts.
Despite making four errors, Western New England College turned three double plays to end the third, fifth, and sixth innings.
Western New England College (7-1) was playing its first game in 12 days. The Golden Bears are ranked sixth in the New England Division III Coaches poll; the Warriors are ranked fifth in the region and 17th nationally.
