Huskies win 6th NE regional crown

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HARWICH, MASS. – They had to do it the hard way this time around, but the University of Southern Maine Huskies battled all the way through the losers’ bracket to win their sixth NCAA Division II New England Regional baseball championship.

The arduous title drive culminated with an 11-7 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University Sunday afternoon.

Southern Maine is the first team to lose its opening round game only to come back and win the tournament since ECSU in 1987. The Huskies earned a spot in the Division III National Championship Tournament at Appleton, Wis., which begins play Friday.

The win avenged two losses to ECSU on May 12 which gave the Warriors the Little East Conference title.

In Sunday’s second game, Pat Toomey and Andy Lang each had four hits to pace a 17-hit attack by the Huskies.

Tourney MVP Pat Liddy of Farmington, notched a save with 3? innings of one-run relief. Portland’s Erik Carlson got the win, also with 3? innings of relief.

Toomey had a home run, a double, and two singles for three RBIs while Lang had two doubles and two singles.

For the Warriors, John Kubachka went 3-for-4 with three singles and one RBI.

In Sunday’s first game, Delorme notched a double and two singles with three RBIs to lead USM to a semifinal round win over Williams College, 6-3.

Toomey, Lang, and Adam Lemieux each had two hits to help fuel the 13-hit attack.

On Saturday, Both Jody Curcuru and Brian Marshall ripped two-run doubles in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the University of Southern Maine to a third round win over Bridgewater State in the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament.

Lemieux nailed a two-run home run for the Huskies of Gorham as Tyler Delorme singled twice and Greg Gureckis tallied a double.

Jason Estano notched a home run and two singles with four RBIs to pace the Bridgewater attack as Peter Buffington cracked three singles.

(Saturday’s Game)

Bridgewater St. (28-10) 000 413 011 – 10 17 4

So. Maine 100 400 25x – 12 11 0

Hart, McGonigle (7), Haskins (7) and Buffington; Southwick, Pelletier (4), Carlson (5), Loveless (6), Adams (6) and L’Italien

(Sunday’s First Game)

Williams (33-5) 001 200 000 – 3 9 1

So. Maine 002 013 00x – 6 13 2

Hart, McGonigle (7), Haskins (7) and Buffington

(Sunday’s Second Game)

USM (36-12) 421 030 001 – 11 17 4

E. Conn. State (38-13) 040 011 001 – 7 14 1

Russell, Southwick (2), Carlson (2), Pelletier (6), Liddy (6) and L’Italien; Serfass, Fortin (2), Bongiovanni (3), DePaulo (5), Gouin (8) and Funaro

Delaware 7, Towson 0

At Wilmington, Del., Chris Kolodzey nailed a triple and a single with two RBIs to lead Delaware to a win over Towson in the America East Championship game.

Kris Dufner belted a two-run single for Delaware as Andrew Salvo doubled with an RBI. Gregg Davies led the Towson attack with three singles.

Towson (37-23) 000 000 000 – 0 11 0

Delaware (44-13) 220 210 00x – 7 11 3

Shaffer, Summerlin (2), Howelis (6), Nein (9) and Stidham; Vincent and Schneider