CASTLETON, VT (May 7, 2011) - The Penn State Berks baseball team finished runner-up to Husson University after a 10-3 setback in the 2011 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Baseball Championship on Saturday afternoon at Castleton State College.
The Nittany Lions were unable to find a way to get Tom Crews out. The outfielder was 3 for 3 with three home runs and nine RBI en route to being named the most valuable player.
Connor Corson was 1 for 4 with a home run and Michael Ference went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.
Corson gave the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead in the second inning when he connected for his first home run of the season.
Kevin Heilman, who pitched a complete game in last Sunday's division championship, did not allow hit through the first three innings. But the Braves broke through with a four-run fourth inning, powered behind a three-run shot by Crews.
Berks countered with two runs in the bottom of the half to cut the deficit to 4-3. Rich Schlamowitz walked, Ference doubled and both came in to score on a two-out single to right by Geraldo Garcia.
Senior pitcher Nate Adams allowed only two Berks base runners the rest of the way. The right-hander fired a complete-game, six hitter. He struck out four and picked up his eighth win of the season.
Husson tacked on a pair in the fifth when Crews had a two-run jack to left. Crews finished off the scoring with a grand slam in the top of the ninth to give the Braves a six-run cushion.
Kyle Hartman added a double and Nick Vitelli singled for the Lions. Kyle Vanidestine was 3 for 5 with two runs scored and Nick Ververis added two hits and scored a run for the Braves.
Heilman struck out two batters in his five innings of work. Ryan Tantala pitched the final four innings.
The Nittany Lions finish the season with an 18-21 overall record and were the NEAC Western Division Champions. The Braves (29-15) will advance to the NCAA Division III Championship beginning on May 18.
