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MANSFIELD, Conn. --  Senior righty Matthew Wootton (Milford) pitched seven strong innings and the Eastern Connecticut State University baseball team survived the University of Southern Maine's two-out rally in the top of the ninth as the Warriors gained a split of Sunday afternoon's Little East Conference doubleheader with a 3-2 second-game win at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.

In the first game, senior lefty Francis Ferguson (Holden, MA) struck out ten through the first four innings but faltered in the fifth when Southern Maine (9-14, 6-3 LEC) scored all three of its runs on three hits in the Huskies' 3-2 victory. Three Southern Maine pitchers handcuffed Eastern on five hits, with relievers TJ Lierena and Peter Keblinsky combining for the final three hitless innings in relief of starter Colin McDonald (3-2).

Eastern (18-6, 7-2 LEC) had won ten of its previous 11 entering the day but re-gained its footing behind Wootton (3-0) following the first-game loss. Wootton fanned seven without a walk and gave up only five hits and one run. The Warriors took a 3-1 lead into the ninth and  senior righty Tyler Rice (Berlin) got two quick outs on a popup and swinging strikeout after taking over for first-year righty Stephen Rickert (Williston, VT) to start the inning. The Huskies pulled to within a run on four consecutive singles before Rice nailed down his staff-leading fourth save when he stranded the bases loaded by inducing  pinch hitter Santiago Sanchez's  game-ending ground ball to senior Preston [Irby] Cosme-Cruz (Bridgeport) at short.

In the doubleheader, senior leftfielder Alejandro Soriano (Hartford) and senior centerfielder Ray Leonzi (Trumbull) extended long streaks by reaching base for the 24^th and 23^rd consecutive games, with Soriano hitting safely in his 16^th and 17^th consecutive games. Senior catcher Hank Penders (Wethersfield) grounded out twice and flew out twice in the first game that stopped his 16-game streak of reaching base, but he returned in the nightcap to contribute two hits and drive in a run.

In relief of Ferguson in the first game, graduate righty Nathan Furino (East Haven) and senior lefty Nicholas Furino (East Haven) combined on 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, a walk and hit batsmen while fanning five.

On the day, Leonzi reached four times with three hits (two doubles) and a walk, scored twice, drove in a run and stole a base. Penders, Cosme-Cruz and senior second baseman Michael Hernandez (Bridgeport) all had two hits while sophomore third baseman Teige Kimbler (Albany, NY) reached three times with a single and two walks and scored a run.

Eastern is scheduled to play three road games in three days beginning Tuesday in a Little East game against Western Connecticut at 3:30 p.m. The Warriors visit Amherst College Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Wheaton College Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in non-conference action.