HARWICH, Mass. - Junior designated hitter Chris Fredericks (Wallingford, CT) singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift sixth-seeded Western New England College to an exciting 11-10 victory over second-seeded St. Joseph's College, Maine in a winners' bracket game Thursday (May 18) in the second day of competition at the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship at Whitehouse Field.

The Golden Bears, who defeated third-seeded Middlebury 14-2 on Wednesday, will face top-seeded Wheaton (35-8) at noon Friday (May 19) in a winners' bracket game.

Freshman Jason Pizzoferrato (Windsor, CT) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the win. He gave up one hit and struck out two without allowing a walk in raising his record to 10-1. Pizzoferrato came in with runners on first and second with no outs in the top of the ninth and after a sacrifice bunt fanned the next two hitters.

Western New England College (35-10) led 4-2 after three innings and 7-3 after six before the Monks scored three runs in seventh and four times in the eighth to take an 10-8 lead. The Golden Bears tied the contest on a RBI triple by junior center fielder Garrison Ward (Wyckoff, NJ) and sacrifice fly by sophomore shortstop Ryan Kravontka (Glastonbury, CT).Ward had also a single, double, two RBI, and two runs to cap a 3-for-5 afternoon.

The Golden Bears had 15 hits as freshman right fielder Chris Newell (Wallingford, CT) went 3-for-4 with three runs and a RBI. Junior catcher Steve Hanjack (Enfield, CT) was 2-for-4 with a run while junior first baseman Tom Horgan (Westfield, MA) was 2-for-5 with a RBI. Senior second baseman Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) had a double and three RBI.

St. Joseph's, Maine (34-9-1) rapped out 16 hits, including three homers, with senior first baseman Ben Muniz (Readfield, ME) went 3-for-4 with a solo homer leading off the sixth and two-run shot with two out in the eighth that gave the Monks the two-run lead. Three SJC hurlers had five wild pitches, 10 strikeouts, and nine walks (including four intentional passes) in the three hour, 44 minute contest.

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).

Thursday, May 18, 2006
Game 5 - Middlebury 10, Bowdoin 8 (Bowdoin eliminated)
Game 6 - Western New England College 11, Saint Joseph's, Maine 10 (10 innings)
Game 7 - Salem State vs. Middlebury, 5:35 p.m.
Game 8 - Southern Maine vs. Saint Joseph's, Maine, 9:00 p.m.

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 5, Salem State 2

Friday, May 19, 2006
Game 9 - Wheaton vs. Western New England College, 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)