SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - In a battle between two nationally-ranked baseball teams, Western New England College ended its regular season with a doubleheader split against Wheaton College Saturday at Trelease Park. The Golden Bears dropped the opener 4-3 before winning the nightcap 5-2.

Wheaton (34-8) is the top-ranked team in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Division III Poll and seventh in the Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Poll. WNEC is second in the NEIBA Poll and 15th in the NCAA Poll.

In the first game, Western New England College let a 3-1 lead slip away as the Lyons scored twice in the seventh and the winning run in the ninth. The Golden Bears had a chance to tie the game, but had a runner thrown out at the plate to end the game.

Junior catcher Steve Hanjack (Enfield, CT) went 3-for-4 while junior center-fielder Garrison Ward (Wyckoff, NJ) was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Junior left-fielder Eric Smolin (Westford, MA) had two hits with a run in five at-bats. Senior Jason Connelly (Scituate, MA) had a complete game effort, but gave up 12 hits in suffering his second loss in nine decisions. He allowed three earned runs, fanned four, and walked two.

Western New England College scored four runs in the second inning of the second contest and sophomore Chris Anderson (Moodus, CT) again came through with a strong performance limiting the Lyons to only six hits while striking out seven and walking two. Anderson is now 5-2 on the season.

Connelly, who played second base, had a big game going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Sophomore designated hitter Travis Schwamb (West Springfield, MA) also went 3-for-4 with a run while Hanjack continued his fine play with a hit, two runs, and a RBI.

Western New England College has a 33-14 record that ties the school record for wins previously established in 2004.

The Golden Bears will have the week off before pairings are announced for the NCAA Division III Championship on Sunday night (May 14).