HARWICH, Mass. - The best season in Western New England College baseball history came to an end Friday night (May 19) when the sixth-seeded Golden Bears dropped a 6-3 decision to fifth-seeded Southern Maine in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III New England Regional Baseball Tournament at Whitehouse Field.

WNEC managed only four hits, but kept the game close by scoring two runs in the top of the eighth to pull within 4-3. The Huskies added two big insurance runs in the bottom of the frame for a three-run advantage.

Western New England College had runners on first and second, and the tying run at the plate before junior reliever Pat Foley got the final out for the save.

Senior second baseman Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) went 1-for-3 in his final appearance with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and RBI single in the eighth. Senior right fielder Bobby Zoller (Bridgewater, NJ) was 0-2, but walked his last two at-bats for the Golden Bears.

Junior Eric Smolin (Westford, MA) went five and a third innings allowing four runs, but only one earned run, while striking out four and walking two.

Southern Maine (32-16) advanced to the championship round despite making five errors. The Huskies, who lost their opener Wednesday against Salem State (8-5), have now won three in a row in the tournament after beating St. Joseph's, Maine (10-1) Thursday night and Middlebury (12-10) earlier Friday afternoon. SMU will meet Wheaton in the championship round starting at noon Saturday (May 20).

Western New England College finishes its season with a 35-11 record that sets a school record for wins.

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).

Friday, May 19, 2006
Game 9 - Wheaton 6, Western New England College 0
Game 10 - Southern Maine 12, Middlebury 10 (Middlebury eliminated)
Game 11 - Southern Maine 6, Western New England College 3 (Western New England College eliminated)

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 - Middlebury 14, Salem State 4 (Salem State eliminated)
Game 8 - Southern Maine 10, Saint Joseph's, Maine 1 (St. Joseph's, Maine eliminated)

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

Saturday, May 20, 2006
Game 12 - Wheaton vs. Southern Maine, 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)