EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Western New England College scored three runs in the sixth inning and four times in the eighth to defeat Rivier 7-1 in a first round game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Tournament at Pierce Field Thursday.

Senior Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) had a complete game victory allowing seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. He now has a 7-1 record and a school record 29 victories.

Junior third baseman Josh Jacobs (Essex Junction, VT) had a big afternoon at the plate going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBI.

Junior first baseman Tom Horgan (Westfield, MA) and junior center-fielder Garrison Ward (Wyckoff, NJ) also had two hits apiece while junior catcher Steve Hanjack (Enfield, CT) knocked in two runs with a single and squeez bunt.

Western New England College (29-8) will meet Johnson & Wales at 3:00 p.m. Friday (April 28) in a second round contest of the double elimination tournament. JWU rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 decision in 12 innings over Suffolk tonight.