CASTLETON, VT (May 7, 2011) – Husson University edged out Penn State Berks, 2-1, to take game one in the best of three series of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship on Saturday afternoon at Castleton State University.
The teams will play game No. 2 starting at 2 p.m. Berks needs to win the next two games, while Husson can clinch the title with a victory in the second game. The winner will advance to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
Husson, who won the NEAC Eastern Division Championship last Sunday, rode the complete game, 11 strikeout performance by senior Ryan Arsenault. Â The left-hander scattered six hits and worked out of a trouble in the seventh inning.
Connor Corson had an RBI single to score Nick Vitelli with one down, evening the game at 1-apiece in the Nittany Lions (18-20) half of the seventh. Rich Schlamowitz and Michael Ference followed with singles to load the bases. Arsenault then got back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the jam.
Berks stranded six runners on base for the game, three of which were in scoring position. The Braves (28-15) left 11 runners on base.
Freshman Zach Guiles pitched strong in 6.2 innings, but suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering two runs. He scattered four hits, but was hurt by seven walked batters. Guiles registered seven strikeouts. Bryer Eshbach allowed only one hit in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
The Braves got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Tom Crews walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. He then put Husson up 1-0 after another wild pitch.
Husson answered back immediately after the Nittany Lions evened up the game in the seventh. With two outs, Dylan Foster reached on an error and Jake Arthers then had an infield single. Back-to-back walks gave the Braves the lead, which they would not relinquish.
Schlamowitz and Ference each went 2 for 4, while Corson and Aaron Wilkins had the other Berks hits.
