Box Score MEDFORD, Mass. -- The Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team continued its success against New England regional contenders Monday afternoon, scoring twice in the top of the eighth inning on senior first baseman Gavin Lavallee's (New Milford) two-run double to defeat Tufts University at Huskins Field.
Looking to return to post-season play after a two-year absence, Eastern (24-7) improved to 4-1 this year against teams appearing in this week's NCAA Division III New England Regional Rankings. The Warriors are ranked second, Tufts seventh. The Warriors are 18-4 up north, with previous regional victories over No. 3 Amherst College (18-5), No. 6 Wheaton College (8-6) and No. 9 Salve Regina University (10-1). The Warriors improved to 10-3 away from the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
At right: Gavin Lavallee
A winner of nine of its previous ten and the No. 1 seed in its own conference tournament, Tufts (27-4) scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to take its second lead of the game, 5-4, before the Warriors answered with the go-ahead runs in the top of the eighth for its third straight win over the Jumbos and sixth in the last eight years.
Senior shortstop Brendan Lynch (Wethersfield) reached on an infield error to open the eighth and moved to second on an opposite-field single through the right side by senior rightfielder Nik Ververis (Plainfield) which brought on freshman reliever Speros Varinos. A bunt single by junior leftfielder Adam Roderick (West Hartford) loaded the bases for Lavallee, who delivered an opposite-field double to right-center that brought home Lynch and Ververis.
Junior righty Brent Pelella (Southbury) and senior righty Pat Barnett (Windsor) combined on an eight-hitter, Barnett (5-0) winning his first game in two weeks. Barnett took over for Pelella with the bases loaded and Eastern leading 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Barnett surrendered a sacrifice fly but left the tying runs aboard by inducing an inning-ending fly ball to centerfielder Joe Perez (North Branford).
Barnett protected the lead by retiring all six batters he faced over the last two innings, allowing only one ball out of the infield. Lavallee reached safely four times with three hits and walk to up his batting average to a team-high .355. Lynch and Ververis both had two hits and scored two runs, and Roderick moved to within six of his 100th career hit with two hits. He also scored a run and drove in one.
Eastern visits MIT Thursday in a non-conference game at 4 p.m., then travels to the University of Southern Maine in a Little East Conference doubleheader Friday at noon. A sweep gives the Warriors a share of the regular-season title and the No. 1 tournament seed.
