Eastern Connecticut beats USM twice to capture Little East

GORHAM – Brian Gouin scattered six hits while Eastern Connecticut pounded out 16 of its own in the second game Saturday to topple the University of Southern Maine 9-1 and win the Little East Conference championship.

Southern Maine needed to win only one game Saturday but dropped the opener 7-4. Eastern Connecticut State claimed the NCAA Division III automatic berth and Southern Maine will await a possible at-large bid.

In Saturday’s opener, Brian Fortin gave up seven hits while striking out nine and walking two. Nick Tempesta hit a solo homer for ECSU and John Kubachka knocked in two runs on a single and a double.

Craig Durekis led USM with an RBI triple. Andy Lang hit a double and a single with one RBI, and Brian Marshall singled twice and drove in a run.

In Saturday’s second game, John Hedde hit a two-run double for ECSU. Tempesta doubled and singled.

Adam Lemieux smacked an RBI double for the Huskies. Jason Dority singled twice.

Dority, Marshall, and Shaun Richardson were named to the all-tournament team.

(First Game)

Southern Maine 000 110 110 – 4 7 2

Eastern Connecticut 210 120 10x – 7 10 2

Southwick, Gunning (4), Loveless (5), Lemieux (7) and L’Italien; Fortin and Funaro

(Second Game)

Southern Maine (32-11) 000 000 100 – 1 6 4

Eastern Conn. (35-11) 000 003 42x – 9 16 2

Liddy, Carlson (4), Loveless (6), Pelletier (6), Gunning (7), Russell (8) and L’Italien