Box Score
Box Score
MANSFIELD, Conn. – It was a long day at the ball park for Western New England, but well worth it.
Junior
Jeff Richardson (Simsbury, CT) tossed an impressive five-hitter to lead the No. 21 Golden Bears to a 4-0 victory over No. 11 Saint Joseph's (Maine) Friday night (May 18) in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Friday night (May 18) at Eastern Stadium.
Western New England, who earlier in the day defeated Bowdoin 7-1, will meet Trinity at noon Saturday (May 19). The winner faces Wheaton at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Richardson was sensational in his longest outing and first complete game/shutout of the season. The crafty left hander walked two and fanned nine in raising his record to 3-1. This was Richardson's first decision since March 26 and his first appearance since April 28.
The Golden Bears (36-12) scored two runs in both the first and fifth innings off sophomore
Nick Whittaker (Yarmouth, ME) (6-1) who suffered his first loss of the season. He gave up eight hits in five innings, walked three, and had four strikeouts.
WNE didn't waste any time getting on the board starting when junior right fielder
Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT) walked with one out in the first. He advanced to third on a single by junior third baseman
Mike Rubino (Northford, CT).
Junior second baseman
Tim Clark (West Springfield, MA) singled to score Anthonis and Rubino crossed the plate on a single by junior left fielder
Taylor Perun (Plainville, CT).
Anthonis doubled with one out in the fifth and came home on a single by Clark. After Perun walked to put runners on first and second, senior designated
Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) doubled down the right field line to bring home Anthonis.
Richardson pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh getting junior centerfielder
Nate Martin (Chebeague Island, ME) to fly out to end the threat. Richardson set down the side in order in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Clark finished 3-for-3 with a walk while sophomore first baseman
Steve Ambrosino (Laurel Hollow, NY) contributed a pair of hits.
Freshman designated hitter
Nic Lops (South Portland, ME) had a lead-off double in the second for the Monks, but was stranded after Richardson got the next three outs. Junior reliever
Tyler Laverriere (Biddeford, ME) permitted just two hits and struck out two in three innings for SJC.
Saint Joseph's (Maine) ends its season with a 38-7 record.
Contact: Ken Cerino, Western New England athletic communications director (413) 782-1227
kcerino@wne.edu
