Northeast Conference - 2007 NEC Baseball Championship Recaps

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2007 NEC Baseball Championship Recaps

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Game 7
#3 Monmouth 7, #4 Central Connecticut State 1
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New Britain, CT -- Senior lefty Matt Coulson (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) pitched 7.2 innings allowing one run on five hits to lead third-seeded Monmouth University to a 7-1 win over fourth-seeded Central Connecticut (26-26) and the Hawks� third Northeast Conference baseball championship on Saturday at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, CT. The Hawks (36-22-1) dropped the first game of the day to the Blue Devils, 4-2, but rebounded to claim their first conference title since 1999. With the win the Hawks earn the NEC�s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Hawks got on the board first on a solo home run to left center off the bat of Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) with one out in the inning giving the Hawks their first lead of the day, 1-0.

Monmouth upped their lead to 2-0 against Blue Devil starter John Tesseyman (High Falls, NY/Maine) with a run in the second inning. With two outs in the inning Justin Braun (Stony Brook, NY/St. John the Baptist) singled and scored on a double down the left field line by catcher John Dennis (Union, NJ/Union) giving the Hawks the two run cushion.

Tesseyman, who pitched 4.2 innings on Friday, finished the inning and was replaced by lefty Matt Gianini (West Haven, CT/West Haven) in the third. He allowed two earned runs on four hits in his two innings.

Coulson, who was named the tournament�s Most Valuable Player, retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced in the game and allowed just a single to Matt Memoli (Shelton, CT/Shelton) through the first four frames.

CCSU put the leadoff man on for the first time in the game in the fifth when Sean Salvatore (Southington, CT/Southington) reached on a fielding error. It was just the second baserunner of the game for the Blue Devils. With one out junior Garrett Walker (Milford, CT/Foran) doubled to right center to put runners on second and third. Coulson struck out the next two Blue Devils to end the threat and maintain the 2-0 lead.

Monmouth upped the lead to 3-0 with a run in the bottom of the inning. With a runner on first and one out Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills) singled and then Messineo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs Shawn Teters (Springdale, AR/Springdale) was hit by a pitch scoring the third run of the game for the home team.

The Hawks put the first two runners on in the sixth forcing Gianini from the game after three plus innings, two earned run, three hits, three strikeouts and he also hit two batters. Sophomore lefty Ken Kerski (Waterbury, CT/Crosby), who also pitched on Friday against Monmouth, came in in relief and retired the first batter he faced but a sacrifice fly by Dennis scored Mike Casale (Toms River, NJ/Toms River) making it 4-0.

Central Connecticut got on the board with a two-out RBI single to center field by sophomore Casey Walko (Freehold, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) making it 4-1 in the top of the eighth inning.

The Hawks added three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to up their lead to 7-1 including the third RBI of the game for Dennis.

Monmouth closer Justin Esposito (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown North) entered the game in the eighth inning with one out and picked up his 10th save of the season.

Monmouth advances to the 2007 NCAA Tournament as the NEC�s automatic bid with their third NEC title and their first since 1999. The announcement of their opponent for the tournament will be made live on ESPN on The Road to Omaha Show on Monday, May 28th at 12:30 p.m.

All-Tournament Team
Tim Binkoski (OF), QU
Pat Egan (P), QU
Adam Piechowski (P), CCSU
Matt Gianini (P), CCSU
Evan Scribner (P), CCSU
Andy Meyers (1B), MU
Kyle Messineo (OF), MU
Brad Brach (P), MU
Matt Coulson (P), MU (Most Valuable Player)

Game 6
#4 Central Connecticut State 4, #3 Monmouth 2
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New Britain, CT -- Senior righty Adam Piechowski pitched 8.2 innings allowing two runs leading Central Connecticut (26-25) to a 4-2 victory over Monmouth (35-22-1) in Saturday�s first game at the Northeast Conference Baseball Championships at New Britain Stadium. The Blue Devil win forces a winner-take-all final game in the championship being played on Saturday afternoon. The winner of the day�s second game will claim the 2007 NEC Baseball title and the league�s automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.

The Blue Devils struck first with an unearned run without a hit in the bottom of the second inning off of Monmouth freshman starter Brett Brach (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township). Senior Sean Salvatore (Southington, CT/Southington) reached first after he was hit by a pitch and with one out he stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the Monmouth catcher. Senior B.K. McLaughlin (Junction, TX/West Texas CC) flew out to left field and a throwing error by the Monmouth left fielder allowed Salvatore to score from third giving the Blue Devils the 1-0 lead.

Central Connecticut threatened again in the third putting runners on first and second on back-to-back singles by junior Jay Schillaci (McKeesport, PA/McKeesport Area) and sophomore Casey Walko (Freehold, NJ/Red Bank Catholic). Senior catcher Adam Taha (Bayville, NJ/Brookdale CC) lined into a double play to end the threat.

In the fourth Monmouth put the leadoff man on with a double to right center by junior first baseman Andy Meyers (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) but Blue Devil starting pitcher Adam Piechowski (Winsted, CT/Philadelphia Univ.) forced a pop-out and a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

In the fourth, fifth and sixth innings Brach allowed runners to reach first and second base with two outs but he was able to battle out of each jam without allowing a run and keeping the Blue Devil lead at 1-0.

In the top of the seventh Monmouth put runners on first and second on back-to-back singles by Chris Collazo (Wall, NJ/Wall) and Mike Casale (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) with two outs but Piechowski forced a groundout to end the Monmouth threat.

Central Connecticut put the leadoff man on board via the walk in the bottom of the inning and after a sacrifice bunt Taha was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second bringing in Monmouth reliever Matt Frazier (Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park). A single through the right side by CCSU junior Jak Kidd (Casper, WY/McCook CC) plated Schillaci and moved Taha to third. Salvatore�s safety squeeze scored Taha making it 3-0, all three runs were charged to Brach.

Monmouth scored a run with two outs in the top of the eighth inning cutting the Blue Devils lead to 3-1. After the first two batters were retired Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) was hit by a pitch and then stole second. He scored on a single up the middle by Meyers.

The Blue Devils got the run back in the bottom of the frame with a two-out RBI double by Schillaci that scored McLaughlin who had walked to lead off the inning.

Monmouth scored a single run in the top of the ninth when John Dennis (Union, NJ/Union) drove in a run with two outs to cut the lead to 4-2.

Piechowski pitched 8.2 innings for the Blue Devils allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out eight. He retired nine of 10 batters after allowing the leadoff man to reach base in the second inning. From the fourth through the six innings the senior struck out five of seven batters and allowed just one base runner. Senior Evan Scribner (Washington Depot, CT/Shepaug Valley) earned the save for CCSU pitching the final out on the ninth inning.

Brach pitched 6.1 innings allowing three runs, two earned, five hits while striking out two and walking four. He also hit three batters in the game.

Game 5
#4 Central Connecticut State 5, #1 Quinnipiac 0
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New Britain, CT -- The Central Connecticut State University baseball team broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the sixth inning and cruised to a 5-0 victory over Quinnipiac University in an elimination game at the 2007 Northeast Conference Tournament on Friday night. With the victory, the fourth-seeded Blue Devils (25-25) will now face third-seeded Monmouth in the championship round on Saturday at noon. Central Connecticut needs to defeat the Hawks twice on Saturday to claim the title, while Monmouth needs just one victory to clinch the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Quinnipiac concludes its season with a 29-18-1 record. The Bobcats set a new program mark for wins in a campaign in 2007.

The Blue Devils received a masterful performance from right-hander Evan Scribner (Washington Depot, Conn.), who moved to 6-6 overall and recorded his second win of this year�s NEC tournament. He threw a complete-game six-hitter and struck out a career-high 12.

Early on, it was a tight affair with Scribner and Quinnipiac southpaw Chris Gloor (Bay Shore, N.Y.) keeping the offenses in check. While both teams were able to put runners in scoring position, neither was able to put a run across until the home half of the sixth.

Junior Jay Schillaci (McKeesport, Pa.) opened the frame on a single and went to second on a bunt single by sophomore Casey Walko (Freehold, N.J.). Senior catcher Adam Taha (Bayville, N.J.) singled through the right side scoring Schillaci, giving the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead and putting runners on second and third.

Junior Jak Kidd�s (Casper, Wyo.) sacrifice fly to right scored Walko making it 2-0. With two outs in the inning, freshman first baseman Tommy Meade (Pearl River, N.Y.) walked followed by a deep two-run double to left center by junior Garrett Walker (Milford, Conn.) that made it 4-0 in favor of the Blue Devils. Matt Memoli�s (Shelton, Conn.) third single of the game scored the fifth run of the inning, giving CCSU the 5-0 cushion.

Game 4
#1 Quinnipiac 4, #2 Mount St. Mary's 1
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New Britain, CT -- Quinnipiac University senior right-hander Pat Egan (Rocky Hill, Conn.) tossed a complete-game, three-hitter to lead the Bobcats to a 4-1 victory over Mount St. Mary's in a losers' bracket elimination game at the 2007 Northeast Conference Baseball Tournament. With the victory, Quinnipiac (29-17-1), the No. 1 seed, will face No. 4 Central Connecticut (24-25) in an elimination game at approximately 7 p.m. tonight.

The Mountaineers conclude their season at 35-22 with the loss.

Quinnipiac wasted no time in scoring the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning. Ryan Rizzo (East Northport, N.Y.) doubled to left center field with one out. Tim Binkoski (North Haven, Conn.) followed with a bounding single through the right side that plated Rizzo.

The Mount tied the game with a run in the top of the third. Mike Gioiso (Baltimore, Md.) was hit by a pitch and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Justus Yocum (Emmitsburg, Md.) dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Pat Egan fielded the ball and threw to first base. Yocum and Quinnipiac second baseman Randy Gress (Shelton, Conn.) collided at first base, allowing Gioiso to score all the way from second.

The Bobcats regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a leadoff home run from first baseman Jeff Mainetti (Guilford, Conn.).It was his 12th long ball of the year. Two batters later, Pete Kummerfeldt (Pompton Lakes, N.J.) left the yard with his 12th home run of the season.

Quinnipiac padded its lead to three runs in the bottom of the eighth when Binkoski blasted a shot over the right field wall.

Meanwhile, Egan was cruising along on the hill. He set down 14 consecutive batters from the fifth through ninth innings. He finished with five strikeouts and moved to 4-3 on the season.

Game 3
#3 Monmouth 7, #4 CCSU 1
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New Britain, CT -- Monmouth University advanced to its seventh Northeast Conference Championship round, with its 7-1 victory over Central Connecticut State on Friday afternoon at New Britain Stadium. Monmouth advances to the 2007 NEC Championship game on Saturday at noon.

Monmouth (35-21-1) scored twice in the first inning, as the Hawks loaded the bases with no outs, before designated hitter Rick Niederhaus (Whitebouse Station, N.J./Hunterdon Central) grounded into a double play, which plated Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills). Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) then scored on a wild pitch charged to CCSU starter Ken Kerski (Waterbury, Conn./Crosby) for the 2-0 lead.

The Hawks loaded the bases once again in the fourth, knocking out Kerski, before Higgins delivered a two-run double to right center off reliever John Tesseyman (High Falls, N.Y.), followed by Messineo�s two-run triple to right centerfield, making the score 6-0.

CCSU (24-25) trimmed the lead to 6-1 in the top of the sixth inning, as Jay Schillaci (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport Area) led off the frame with a walk and later scored on Casey Walko�s (Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) two-out, ground rule double to leftfield off starting pitcher, Ryan Buch (Yardley, Pa./Conwell Egan).

Monmouth claimed the run back in the bottom of the seventh, when Chris Collazo (Wall, N.J./Wall) collected a two-out double and scored on Mike Casale�s (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) RBI single to left, for the 7-1 edge.

Buch, the 2007 NEC Rookie of the Year, worked six innings, scattering five hits, while allowing one run, en route to his ninth win on the season.

Freshman Kyle Breese (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) worked three innings, allowing one single, to pick up his first save of the year.

Messineo went 4-for-4 in the game for the Hawks, with two singles, a double and a triple, while scoring a run and driving in two more.

Kerski was (7-2) was saddled with the loss, working 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on five hits, while Tesseyman tossed the final 4.2 frames, allowing two runs on six hits.

CCSU faces the winner of Quinnipiac and Mount St. Mary�s in the second elimination game at 7 p.m.

Game 2
#3 Monmouth 9, #2 Mount St. Mary's 0
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New Britain, CT -- Junior right-hander Brad Brach (Freehold, Pa.) tossed a complete-game shutout to lead the No. 3 seeded Monmouth University baseball team to a 9-0 win over No. 2 seeded Mount St. Mary�s in the second game of the 2007 Northeast Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at New Britain, Conn.

The Hawks (34-21-1) will now face Central Connecticut (24-24), the No. 4 seed, on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in a winners� bracket game. The Mount (35-21) will face Quinnipiac (28-17-1) in a losers� bracket contest that pits two clubs who tied for first place during the regular season.

Monmouth broke the game open early with six runs in the top of the second inning. All of runs were unearned and came with two outs.

Chris Collazo (Wall, N.J.) was hit by a pitch with one out to start the rally. One out later, Justin Braun (Stony Brook, N.Y.) reached on an error. John Dennis (Union, N.J.) followed with a two-run double that opened the scoring in the contest.

Dennis� two-bagger was the first of six straight hits for the Hawks. The next batter, Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, N.J.), cracked a RBI single to put Monmouth up 3-0. A RBI double from Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, N.J.) made it 4-0 before Andy Meyers (Stratford, N.J.) drove in Messineo with a run-scoring single of his own. Shawn Teters (Springdale, N.J.) capped the scoring with a RBI double.

Braun extended the Hawks lead to 7-0 with a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning. It was his fifth home run of the year.

The Hawks added two runs in the ninth when Meyers connected for a run-scoring double off the right field wall and Collazo added a RBI single.

Brach (9-2), the 2007 NEC Pitcher of the Year, allowed only seven hits on the afternoon.

Game 1
#4 Central Connecticut State 3, #1 Quinnipiac 2 (10 innings)
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New Britain, CT -- A pitchers� duel between Quinnipiac University right-hander Andy Mayer (Trumbull, Conn.) and Central Connecticut southpaw Matt Gianini (West Haven, Conn.) turned into an extra-inning affair during the first contest of the 2007 Northeast Conference Baseball Tournament. When the dust had cleared, it was the Blue Devils who came away with a hard-fought 3-2 victory in 10 frames. Jak Kidd (Casper, Wyo.) plated Adam Taha (Belmar, N.J.) with the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to send CCSU into a winners� bracket contest.

The Blue Devils (24-24) will face the winner of the Monmouth-Mount St. Mary�s contest at noon on Friday. Quinnipiac (28-17-1) will face the loser of that game at 3:30 p.m. and needs a win to remain alive in the tournament.

The Bobcats carried a 1-0 lead into the top of the ninth inning and were one out away from winning in regulation. Central�s Anthony Scialdone (West Hartford, Conn.) singled with one out in the frame and was promptly replaced by pinch runner Sean Allaire (Bristol, Conn.). Pinch-hitter Casey Walko (Freehold, N.J.) followed with a single to put two runners on and chase Mayer from the game.

Quinnipiac reliever Tyler Brett (Waterford, Conn.) induced a groundout to the first batter he faced, leaving runners at second and third. Richie Tri (Everett, Wash.) followed with a single up the middle that gave the Blue Devils a 2-1 cushion.

The Bobcats answered with a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra frames. John Delaney (Hanson, Mass.) doubled to left center to lead off the inning. He moved to third on a groundout by Ryan Rizzo (East Northport, N.Y.) and came in to score on a single by Tim Binkoski (North Haven, Conn.).

Central Connecticut wasted no time in jumping back out in front. Taha singled with one out in the 10^th, then moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Kidd lifted a long fly ball to right that easily scored Taha.

Quinnipiac put the tying run on second base with one out in the 10^th, but CCSU reliever Evan Scribner (Washington Depot, Conn.) induced a strikeout and a fly out to end the ballgame.

Scribner (5-6) worked two innings to earn the win in relief for Central Connecticut. Brett (4-3) suffered the loss after allowing one run in 1 and 2/3 innings of work.

The Bobcats struck first in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Randy Gress (Shelton, Conn.) laced a double down the left field line. The next batter, Jeff Mainetti (Guilford, Conn.) popped a short fly into right field that was dropped, allowing Gress to score.

Meanwhile, Mayer retired 11 straight from the third through seventh innings to keep the score at 1-0. However, the Quinnipiac offense couldn�t come through with another run until the ninth.