Hartford, Conn. –- May 31, 2021 --  Behind the pitching of seniors Gavin Reily (Bridgewater, Mass.), Josh Roberge (Chelmsford, Mass.) and two relievers, Wheaton College defeated the University of Southern Maine, 2-1 in Game 11 and defeated Salve Regina University, 7-4 in Game 10 earlier in the day to advance to the championship game against the Huskies of the 2021 NCAA Division III Baseball Hartford Regional Tournament at DiBenedetto Stadium on the campus of Trinity College. The Lyons head to the NCAA Division III College World Series in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a 20-5 mark. 

Game 1: Wheaton 7, Salve Regina 4:

Wheaton was led by senior pitcher, Josh Roberge who pitched seven innings with six strikeouts and two earned runs. Teammate, Griffin Young (Dover, N.H.) got the save in two innings of work with three strikeouts.

Wheaton got on the board in the bottom of third on a Salve error, which scored sophomore, Nick Croteau (Cumberland, R.I.). Croteau went 2-for-3 with two doubles on the day.

The Lyons got a strong hitting performance by NEWMAC Baseball Athlete of the Year, Jacob Studley (Barrington, R.I.) , who went 1-for-4 with two RBI's and a stolen base. Classmate and All-NEWMAC First team receipient, Zach DeMattio (North Attleboro, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with one double and two RBI's to help the Lyons advance to the Regional Championship game at 1:30pm against USM.

Game 2: Wheaton 2, Southern Maine 1:

Senior, Gavin Reily allowed just one run on four hits over seven-plus innings.  He walked two and struck out three to improve his record to 6-2.  Junior Zach Clesas (Johnston, R.I.) came on in the eighth after Reily was nicked for a solo home run by USM rookie Cam Seymour (Saco, Maine) and a walk.  Clesas stranded a runner at first getting three straight batters.  Junior Griffin Young (Dover, N.H.) came on in the ninth to get his second  save of the season.

Wheaton scored single runs in the first and second innings and made them stand up.  In the opening frame, junior Jacob Studley (Barrington, R.I.) tripled with two outs and scored when junior Zach DeMattio (North Attleboro, Mass.) followed with a single.

In the second, junior Andrew Spirito (Cranston, R.I.) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from classmate Stephen Quigley (Halifax, Mass.).  After a ground out for the second out, an untimely error allowed Quigley to score an unearned run. Studley had another triple with one out in the third, but was left stranded as USM junior Joshua Joy (Smithfield, Maine) got out of trouble with two ground ball outs.

Reily kept the Huskies bats in check, allowing only one hit, a two-out first-inning double to senior Andrew Hillier (Bangor, Maine), through the first four innings.  He did not give up a run until the eighth when Seymour led off with his 14th home run of the season to right field.  After Reily walked Hillier to end his day, Clesas came on to retire three straight batters.

The Huskies had one last shot in the bottom of the ninth as sophomore Arlo Pike (Buxton, Maine) beat out a chop off home plate for a single.  The Lyons then turned a game-ending double play to secure the win and the regional title.  Griffin also got defensive help from senior center fielder Brody Ashley (Strafford, N.H.) who tracked down a drive into the right-center gap from senior Dylan Hapworth (Winslow, Maine) before sliding into the fence for the first out. Studley was the lone repeat hitter in the game with his two triples. 

The New England Men's and Women's Conference (NEWMAC) champions returns to the World Series for the fourth time in program history under the guidance of 25th year head coach, Eric Podbelski.

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--Portions of this release are courtesy of USM Athletics