Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--The Western New England University baseball team cranked out 20 runs and 21 hits on Senior Day to earn a doubleheader sweep of visiting Nichols College, 8-1 and 12-6, at Trelease Park on Monday, clinching the third seed in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship Tournament that begins later this week. Western New England improves to 16-18-1 overall and 11-5 in the CCC, while the Bison end their season at 6-26 and 5-11.

The Golden Bears roll into the postseason having won eight of their last 13 games (including one tie), including a 7-1 mark against conference competition. Western New England was tied with Salve Regina for third place during the regular season, but gets the third seed because of head-to-head record, and will host the fourth-seeded Seahawks at 3 p.m. Thursday (weather pending) in the first round of the conference tournament.

Sophomore Doug Milne paced the WNE offense by going 5-for-6, including three doubles, with six runs scored and two runs batted in on the afternoon. Senior co-captain Jeff Schult added three runs and four RBI.

In the opener against Nichols, senior Mike Lospinuso (4-4) got the win after pitching six innings while allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks with a strikeout. Freshman Matt Thomas closed the seventh in scoreless fashion, giving up two hits to go along with one strikeout.

Milne went 2-for-2 and scored four times while Schult drove in two runs. Greg Poll had two of Nichols' five hits.

Lospinuso got all the run support he would need in the bottom of the second inning as WNE took a 2-0 lead. Milne led off with a double to left-center field and Schult followed with a walk. After freshman Daniel Morin sacrificed the runners up 90 feet and another out later, senior Taylor Searles reached on a throwing error that would have ended the frame so the Golden Bears took advantage of the miscue with a pair of unearned runs in the form of Schult and Milne.

Western New England tacked on three more in the next inning for a commanding 5-0 cushion, sending 12 batters to the plate on three hits, three walks and an error. Milne had an RBI-double to right-center, Schult connected on a RBI-single through the left side and he would later score on a wild pitch, unearned.

Nichols scratched its lone run in the fourth when Jeff Sylvester grounded into a 6-3 double play with the bases loaded as Matt Hardy scored from third base.

Western New England sent 11 batters to plate and scored six runs in the second inning to fuel the six-run victory in the nightcap. Milne capped a string of four consecutive hits--as part of nine overall by the team in the frame--with a bloop RBI-double down the left field line.

The Golden Bears also put up crooked numbers with three runs each in the fourth and sixth. Schult highlighted the former frame with a two-run double to left-center and Searles also had a two-bagger good for two runs in the latter, this time to right field.

Junior Trevor Breton won fifth game in six decisions after working five innings, striking out five batters. He walked two, gave up two hits and just an earned run.

Benjamin Harrow led Nichols with a 3-for-4, 3-RBI performance at the plate, including a two-run double to cap a five-run seventh inning.

Western New England outhit the Bison 17 to 9 in the second game.