MANSFIELD, Conn. – Ryan Adams slammed a three-run homer to highlight a seven-run second inning as second-seeded Southern Maine hung on to defeat the fourth-seeded Keene State Owls 10-7 Friday night and advance to the championship round of the Little East Conference tourney.

USM has to beat third-seeded Western Connecticut State University twice on Saturday to capture the title.

Earlier Friday, Ryan Adams pitched eight innings of six-hit, one-run relief No. 2 USM stave off elimination with a 5-4 victory over top-seeded Eastern Connecticut in a losers’ bracket game.

Peter L’Italien doubled in what would end up being the winning run in the top of the eighth for USM.

Southern Maine (26-14-1) 001 030 010 – 5 10 5

E. Connecticut (30-9-1) 030 000 010 – 4 11 4

Thibodeau, Adams (2) and L’Italien; Czerwinski, Schumey (5), Spirito (8) and Funaro

Southern Maine (27-14-1) 070 010 020 – 10 14 4

Keene State (23-18) 011 302 000 – 7 11 1

Thibodeau, Boileau (5), Carlson 7) and L’Italien; Cuthbertson, Hartson (2), Francis (7), Tyer (9) and Morse