FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
Trinity College was undefeated, and rested after a day off on Saturday. The University of Southern Maine had played two games Saturday afternoon, and its pitching was stretched thin. A good combination for the Bantams, who advanced to the 2008 NCAA Division III Baseball World Series on Sunday by topping Southern Maine in the New England Regional Final, 10-3.
With the win, Trinity set the record for consecutive wins in a season with 41, previously held by Marietta College which won 40 in a row during the 1999 season.
Pitcher Chandler Barnard got things started with a two RBI double in the bottom of the second. Barnard later scored on a single by Tim Bourdon, and the Bantams led, 3-0.
Ryan Piacentini led off the next inning with a home run to left field – the first of four runs Trinity would score in the inning. The Bantams would take advantage of three more hits and two hit batsmen to score three more in the inning.
Southern Maine outscored Trinity, 3-1, over the middle innings (fourth through sixth) to pull within five runs after six innings (8-3). Anthony D’Alfonso hit a solo shot to left in the fourth, and Ryan Pike drove in the other two USM runs during the stretch on a home run in the sixth.
A Bourdon double in the seventh plated two more runs for the Bantams, and ended the scoring in the game.
Barnard (10-0) pitched a complete game, four-hitter, allowing one walk while striking out seven. At the plate, he went 3-for-3 on the day, scoring three times and driving in three runs. Bourdon also had three RBI, and was one of three players to register two hits in the game.
Ryan Gaffney was the lone Southern Maine (36-14) player to pick up two hits.
Trinity will now play SUNY Cortland (43-2), winner of the New York Regional, in the Division III World Series out in Wisconsin on Friday.
2008 NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional Championship
All-Tournament Team
C – Sean Killeen, Trinity
INF – Thomas DiBenedetto, Trinity
INF – Joe Griglun, WNEC
INF – Josh Mackey, Southern Maine
INF – Ryan LaPrade, Worcester State
OF – Eddie Skeffington, Southern Maine
OF – Paul Malaguti, Wheaton
OF – Anthony D’Alfonso, Southern Maine
P – Jamie Morin, Keene State
P – Tim Kiely, Trinity
Utl – Chandler Barnard, Trinity
