EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Western New England College baseball team is heading back to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Junior left-fielder Eric Smolin (Westford, MA) went 4-for-4 with three runs and a RBI to earn Most Valuable Player honors as the Golden Bears captured the 2006 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament title with a 10-7 victory over Johnson & Wales Saturday afternoon (April 29) at Pierce Field.

Junior catcher Steve Hanjack (Enfield, CT) had a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a run and RBI to earn a spot on the All-GNAC Tournament with senior pitcher Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) who had a complete game win over Rivier on Thursday.

Johnson & Wales (24-17) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning before WNEC struck for five runs in the bottom of the inning and four more in the fifth inning for a 9-2 lead.

Western New England College (31-8) held a 10-2 advantage before the Wildcats closed the gap by scoring four times in the eighth and once in the ninth.

Freshman Jason Pizzoferrato (Windsor, CT) went the first 7 1/3 innings for his eighth victory in nine decisions this spring. Junior Eric Blanchard (Worcester, MA) earned his fourth save of the season.

WNEC was undefeated in the tournament after defeating Rivier 7-1 on Thursday and Johnson & Wales twice, including another 7-1 score on Friday. The Golden Bears, who have a six-game winning streak, scored 24 runs and banged out 33 hits in the three contests.

Coach Matt LaBranche's team won the GNAC Tournament crown in 2004 and finished second last year.