Baseball Falls in CCC Championship Game

BEVERLEY, Mass. (May 14, 2022) – The Western New England baseball team were unable to solve to eventual champion Gulls of Endicott College, being defeated 4-1 in the CCC Championship game on Saturday afternoon.

Records:

• Western New England: 19-20-1
• No. 20 Endicott College: 36-7

How it Happened:
WNE, who was coming off two outbursts on the offensive end in their last two CCC games, were unable to three-peat that feat, coming away with just one run on the afternoon, as the Endicott's pitching proved to be too much for the Golden Bears. CJ Willis would crack a ground rule double to left center field in the first inning, though WNE would be unable to get anything out of it. SP Robert Zawacki set down the top of the Gulls order in order in the bottom of the first to get off to a good start. Western New England's offense wouldn't be able to come around until late in the contest, though Endicott would get their scoring going in the bottom of the second. A couple of fielder's choices would send the Gulls to a 2-0 lead after two innings of play.

Western New England would give up two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when the Gulls took to two RBI singles that found the holes in the infield to get Endicott a 4-0 lead in the championship game. WNE would threaten in the top of the fifth when Sean Jamieson led off with a single to lead off the inning up the middle, while a fielder's choice and a stolen base would send Jamieson to third base, though WNE would again come up short at sending a runner in, coming up empty in the inning. 

The Golden Bears would crack the code in the top of the sixth inning when Joe Webber singled to second base, collecting an RBI to score CJ Willis, who collected a two out triple to give Webber a chance to deliver. The Golden Bears would leave two on base in the inning. The Golden Bears would go quietly in the 7^th and 8^thinnings, leaving it one inning to force a final game to be crowned champions. In the 9^th, Joe Webber would crack a one out double, while Sean Jamieson would walk. Paul Villecco would rip a single down the right field line, sending the bases loaded with one out. Western New England would send a deep fly out to left field and would fail to score in their final batter of the game, falling to the Gulls 4-1, dropping the CCC Championship contest, crowning Endicott as 2022 champions. 

Around the Diamond: 

• CJ Willis and Joe Webber collected two hits each, leading the Golden Bears. WNE came away with just six hits on the afternoon. 
• The Golden Bears left eight on base in the loss, while Endicott left ten runners on base. 
• WNE is the first five seed to make the CCC Tournament since 2015 when Roger Williams conquered the feat, also falling in the Championship game. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE sees their season conclude at 19-20-1. 
• Endicott awaits their draw in the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced on Monday, May 16 at 12:00 pm.