SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Even though they are no longer battling one another in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), the Western New England College-Suffolk baseball rivalry remains keenly competitive and intense.

Thursday (Apr. 3), the Golden Bears won a rematch against the Rams after holding on for a 12-11 victory at Trelease Park that extended their winning streak to 10 games.

Suffolk earlier defeated WNEC 14-2 on March 17 at the Greater Phoenix Invitational in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The teams combined for 36 hits (including six extra-base hits) and players from both squads made nice defensive plays.

Now a member of The Commonwealth Coast Conference, Western New England College pounded out 19 hits with sophomore right-fielder Steve Kearney (Glastonbury, CT) going 4-for-4 with six RBI and a run.

Senior first baseman Travis Schwamb (West Springfield), junior left-fielder Mike Beck (Whitesboro, NY), and sophomore first baseman Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) each went 3-for-5 for the Golden Bears.

Schwamb had a pair of doubles and knocked in three runs, Beck scored three times, and Griglun wasted no time extending his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the first.

Freshman pitcher Evan Michaud (Windsor Locks, CT) earned his first collegiate victory going five innings allowing five hits and one run with three strikeouts and no walks. Senior Brian Shimansky (West Caldwell, NJ) retired the last batter with the bases loaded in the ninth to pick up the save.

Western New England College (10-5) led 9-1 before Suffolk scored five times to get within 9-6 in the top of the sixth. The Golden Bears took a 12-9 lead into the ninth before the Rams rallied with two runs.

Junior right-fielder Nick Carter (Newburyport, MA), sophomore designated hitter Bobby Barrett (Milton, MA), and freshman Nick Travelyn (Bedford, NH) each collected three hits for the visitors. Junior shortstop Paul Vittozzi (North Reading, MA) had two hits and scored three runs.

This was the second one-run loss in two days for Suffolk who dropped a 3-2 decision against Wheaton. The Rams now have a 12-6 record.