HARWICH, Mass. - Senior rightfielder Eddie Skeffington (Everett, MA) went 4-for-5 with three homers and six RBI to lead Southern Maine to an 11-0 victory over Western New England College in an elimination game of the 2008 New England Regional Baseball Tournament Saturday afternoon (May 17) at Whitehouse Field.
Originally scheduled to begin at noon, the contest was pushed back to 3:30 p.m. because of rain in the morning.
The wait didn't bother senior pitcher Adam Ross (Spruce Head, ME) who tossed an eight-hit shutout with two walks and four strikeouts in earning his fifth win of the season against four losses.
Skeffington blasted solo shots in the second and fifth innings, and added a two-run round-tripper in the seventh. He capped the best day of his career with a two-run single in the eighth.
Skeffington also slugged two homers in an 8-6 loss in 12 innings against the Golden Bears in the opening game of the tournament on Wednesday (May 14).
Southern Maine (35-13) compiled 17 hits off four WNEC pitchers as junior centerfielder Ryan Pike (Saco, ME) had a 3-for-4 showing with a RBI and three runs. The Huskies' didn't make an error and had four double plays.
Western New England College senior shortstop Ryan Kravontka (Glastonbury, CT) reached base three times with a single, double, walk, and became the school's all-time hit leader (212).
Sophomore catcher Jon Dominik (West Springfield, MA) and sophomore second baseman Justin Walz (Groton, CT) each contributed a double.
Freshman pitcher Evan Michaud (Windsor Locks, CT) suffered his first loss in five decisions.
Western New England College had a 2-2 record to finish fourth in the regional tournament after earning the fifth seed in the event.
The Golden Bears concluded another successful campaign with an impressive 33-13 mark.
Southern Maine meets second-seeded Wheaton at 7:00 p.m. tonight with the winner advancing to the championship round Sunday (May 18) against top-ranked Trinity.
