Courtesy Williams Sports Information

HARWICH, Mass. - A seven-run top of the seventh pushed sixth-seeded Western New England College past third-seeded Williams College, 10-5, Wednesday at the NCAA Div. III New England Regional Tournament. The Ephs held a 5-2 lead through six innings but could not hang on, falling to 25-9 on the year. Western New England improved to 27-11 with the win.

Williams will now play the loser of the Eastern Connecticut State vs. St. Joseph's contest in an elimination game on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. Western New England advances to take on the winner of the Eastern Connecticut vs. St. Joseph's contest at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

"We're an older team, we're an experienced team," senior Ryan Fote said. "So, it's tough to lose today, but it's not disheartening. We know that we can come back. Tomorrow is another day. We have to get up early and be ready to play, but it's a new day. We hit the ball well today, we played good defense, we just have to put it all together tomorrow."

Western New England stormed back in the seventh, scoring seven runs to turn a 5-2 deficit into a 9-5 lead. They scored six runs before the Ephs could record an out in the inning. Stephan Hanjack led off the rally with a bunt single before Mike Beck chased Eph starter Dan Benz from the contest with a ground-rule double. First-year Paul Burgdorf came on in relief of Benz and walked the first batter he faced, Steve Kearney, to load the bases. Justin Walz then drew another walk, bringing in Hanjack from third.

The Ephs then called upon senior Ryan Scannell to escape the no-outs bases loaded jam. But Josh Jacobs greeted Scannell with a double to left, knocking in two and tying things up at 5-5. With men on second and third, Travis Schwamb gave Western New England the lead with an RBI two-bagger to left center. Ryan Kravontka followed that up with a triple to center, knocking in two more and making it 8-5. After Scannell got two groundball outs, Hanjack hit his second single of the inning, this one an RBI basehit to center. After walking Beck, Scannell finally stopped the bleeding by striking out Kearney.

Leading 9-5, the Golden Bears tacked on one more in the eighth, as Jacobs doubled with one out, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Kravontka's double to right.

The Ephs had gotten on the board first in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Max Pinto led off the inning with a single to right. He moved to third on a single by sophomore Taylor Mikell, who was then thrown out attempting to steal second for the first out of the inning. Junior Kevin Flynn walked to put men on first and third. Then, Fote drove in the first run of the game with a single to left, making it 1-0 Ephs.

Williams extended its lead in the bottom of the third. After senior catcher Chris Kenney reached on an infield single, senior Paul Morgan crushed a two-run homer to put the Ephs up 3-0. One out later, Pinto was hit by a pitch and Mikell singled to put runners at the corners for Flynn. Flynn grounded to short, but reached on an error that allowed Pinto to score from third and Mikell to advance to second. Fote appeared to have his second RBI of the day when he delivered a basehit to right, but Mikell was thrown out at the plate by the rightfielder Kearney.

Western New England got a pair back in the top of the fourth. After Schwamb drew a one-out walk, Kravontka doubled to center, moving Schwamb to third. After Benz struck out Garrison Ward, Tom Horgan singled to right to clear the bases and cut the Williams' lead to 4-2.

Pinto sparked another Eph run in the bottom of the fifth, singling to center and swiping second with one out. He moved to third on a basehit by Mikell and scored on a sacrifice fly by Flynn, making it 5-2.

Though Western New England and Williams both banged out 14 hits on the day, the Ephs went just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, while the Golden Bears came through at a 7-for-15 clip, racking up four two-out RBIs.

Beck went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, scoring a run. Kravontka finished 3-for-5 with two doubles on the day, with two runs scored and three RBIs. Jacobs and Hanjack also had multihit days for the Golden Bears, as Jacobs went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a pair of RBIs, and a pair of runs and Hanjack went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Eric Smolin earned the complete game victory for Western New England. He allowed five runs, all earned, on 14 hits and two walks through nine innings pitched. He struck out four.

Pinto and Mikell led the Eph offense with three hits a piece. Pinto finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Mikell went 3-for-5. Morgan finished 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs, while Fote was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Morgan's homer was the Ephs' only extra-base hit of the contest.

Eph starter Dan Benz lasted six innings, surrendering four runs, all earned, on seven hits and three walks while striking out six. Burgdorf took the loss for Williams, walking the two batters he faced for two earned runs. In two innings of relief, Scannell gave up four runs, all earned, on six hits and a walk, striking out one. Senior lefty Mike Disner tossed a scoreless ninth, striking out two.