SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Western New England College scored four runs in the first inning and went on to take an easy 16-1 victory over Rivier College in an opening round game of the 2005 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament Thursday at Trelease Park.

The Golden Bears improved their record to 26-5 while tying the school mark with their 12th consecutive win previously set by last year's squad.

Western New England College pounded out 18 hits, including three apiece by senior catcher Matt Hackney (Bristol, CT), senior center-fielder Jeff Maurutis (Milford, CT), and freshman second baseman Ryan Kravontka (Glastonbury, CT). Maurutis scored four runs and had a bases loaded double in a seven-run sixth inning. Hackney had two runs and two RBI while Kravontka scored three times.

Sophomore first baseman Tom Horgan (Westfield, MA) had a pair of hits and made a couple of nice defensive plays.

Senior left-fielder Chris Mahoney (Yorkville, NY), junior right-fielder Bobby Zoller (Bridgewater, NJ), and freshman designated hitter Travis Schwamb (West Springfield, MA) also had two hits.

Sophomore Eric Blanchard (Worcester, MA) allowed only one hit with two strikeouts over six innings to raise his record to 3-0.

Western New England College will host a second round game at 3:00 p.m. Friday (April 29) at Trelease Park.