HARWICH, Mass. - Senior Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) allowed seven hits in seven innings and went 2-for-5 with a single, homer, and three RBI to lead Western New England College to a 14-2 victory over Middlebury in a first round game of the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship at Whitehouse Field.

Connelly (8-2) fanned six and walked two with both runs scored against him unearned in notching his school best 30th career victory. He walked with the bases loaded in the first inning for the first run of the game and slugged a solo home run in the seventh that was his second of the season.

The Golden Bears banged out 17 hits in raising their record to 34-10, which set a school record for wins breaking the old mark of 33 set last year and in 2004.

It also was the 189th career victory for seventh-year coach Matt LaBranche who passed Pat Ricci as the winningest coach in the program's 38-year history. Ricci, a member of the College's Downes Athletic Hall of Fame, compiled 188 wins in the 1970's and 1980's.

Western New England College jumped to a 7-0 lead after three innings and stretched the margin to 9-1 after five innings.

Sophomore shortstop Ryan Kravontka (Glastonbury, CT) went 4-for-6 with a double and two runs while junior left fielder Eric Smolin (Westford, MA) was 3-for-6 with a double, two runs, and two RBI. He pitched the final two innings allowing only two hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

Freshman right fielder Chris Newell (Wallingford, CT) went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.

Junior first baseman Tom Horgan (Westfield, MA) had a solo homer in the ninth that was his first round-tripper of his career.

Junior center fielder Garrison Ward (Wyckoff, NJ) had a two-run single in the second and sacrifice fly in the seventh. Junior catcher Steve Hanjack (Enfield, CT) reached base five times on a single, fielders choice, and three walks, and scored three runs. Freshman second baseman Mike Beck (Whitesboro, NY) had the first double of his career and scored twice in only his second varsity starting assignment.

Western New England College (34-10) will meet St. Joseph's, Maine (34-8-1) at 1:00 p.m. Thursday (May 18) in a winners' bracket game.

Whitehouse Field, Harwich, Mass.
Host: Eastern College Athletic Conference

Seedings - 1. Wheaton (34-8), 2. Saint Joseph's, Maine (33-8-1), 3. Middlebury (24-9), 4. Salem State (33-6), 5. Southern Maine (29-15), 6. Western New England College (33-10), 7. Bowdoin (28-8-1).

Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Game 1 - Salem State 8, Southern Maine 5
Game 2 - Saint Joseph's, Maine 9, Bowdoin 7
Game 3 - Western New England College 14, Middlebury 2
Game 4 - Wheaton vs. Salem State, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 18, 2006
Game 5 - Bowdoin vs. Middlebury, 9:30 a.m.
Game 6 - Saint Joseph's, Maine vs. Western New England College, 1:00 p.m.
Game 7 - Loser of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5, 4:30 p.m.
Game 8 - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 6, 8:30 p.m.

Friday, May 19, 2006
Game 9 - Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 6, Noon
Game 10 - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8, 3:30 p.m.
Game 11 - Loser of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 20, 2006
Game 12 - Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 11, Noon
Game 13 - Same two teams (if necessary) approximately 50 minutes following the conclusion of Game 12 or at a time determined by the tournament committee.

Sunday-Monday, May 21-22, 2006
Rain days (times tba)