New Britain, CT -- Senior lefty Matt Coulson (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Boro) pitched 7.2 innings allowing one run on five hits to lead third-seeded Monmouth University to a 7-1 win over fourth-seeded Central Connecticut (26-26) and the Hawks’ third Northeast Conference baseball championship on Saturday at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, CT. The Hawks (36-22-1) dropped the first game of the day to the Blue Devils, 4-2, but rebounded to claim their first conference title since 1999. With the win the Hawks earn the NEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Hawks got on the board first on a solo home run to left center off the bat of Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) with one out in the inning giving the Hawks their first lead of the day, 1-0.

Monmouth upped their lead to 2-0 against Blue Devil starter John Tesseyman (High Falls, NY/Maine) with a run in the second inning. With two outs in the inning Justin Braun (Stony Brook, NY/St. John the Baptist) singled and scored on a double down the left field line by catcher John Dennis (Union, NJ/Union) giving the Hawks the two run cushion.

Tesseyman, who pitched 4.2 innings on Friday, finished the inning and was replaced by lefty Matt Gianini (West Haven, CT/West Haven) in the third. He allowed two earned runs on four hits in his two innings.

Coulson, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced in the game and allowed just a single to Matt Memoli (Shelton, CT/Shelton) through the first four frames.

CCSU put the leadoff man on for the first time in the game in the fifth when Sean Salvatore (Southington, CT/Southington) reached on a fielding error. It was just the second baserunner of the game for the Blue Devils. With one out junior Garrett Walker (Milford, CT/Foran) doubled to right center to put runners on second and third. Coulson struck out the next two Blue Devils to end the threat and maintain the 2-0 lead.

Monmouth upped the lead to 3-0 with a run in the bottom of the inning. With a runner on first and one out Kyle Higgins (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills) singled and then Messineo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs Shawn Teters (Springdale, AR/Springdale) was hit by a pitch scoring the third run of the game for the home team.

The Hawks put the first two runners on in the sixth forcing Gianini from the game after three plus innings, two earned run, three hits, three strikeouts and he also hit two batters. Sophomore lefty Ken Kerski (Waterbury, CT/Crosby), who also pitched on Friday against Monmouth, came in in relief and retired the first batter he faced but a sacrifice fly by Dennis scored Mike Casale (Toms River, NJ/Toms River) making it 4-0.

Central Connecticut got on the board with a two-out RBI single to center field by sophomore Casey Walko (Freehold, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) making it 4-1 in the top of the eighth inning.

The Hawks added three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to up their lead to 7-1 including the third RBI of the game for Dennis.

Monmouth closer Justin Esposito (Red Bank, NJ/Middletown North) entered the game in the eighth inning with one out and picked up his 10th save of the season.

Monmouth advances to the 2007 NCAA Tournament as the NEC’s automatic bid with their third NEC title and their first since 1999. The announcement of their opponent for the tournament will be made live on ESPN on The Road to Omaha Show on Monday, May 28th at 12:30 p.m.

All-Tournament Team
Tim Binkoski (OF), QU
Pat Egan (P), QU
Adam Piechowski (P), CCSU
Matt Gianini (P), CCSU
Evan Scribner (P), CCSU
Andy Meyers (1B), MU
Kyle Messineo (OF), MU
Brad Brach (P), MU
Matt Coulson (P), MU (Most Valuable Player)

Game 6
#4 Central Connecticut State 4, #3 Monmouth 2
Click Here For Boxscore

New Britain, CT -- Senior righty Adam Piechowski pitched 8.2 innings allowing two runs leading Central Connecticut (26-25) to a 4-2 victory over Monmouth (35-22-1) in Saturday’s first game at the Northeast Conference Baseball Championships at New Britain Stadium. The Blue Devil win forces a winner-take-all final game in the championship being played on Saturday afternoon. The winner of the day’s second game will claim the 2007 NEC Baseball title and the league’s automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.

The Blue Devils struck first with an unearned run without a hit in the bottom of the second inning off of Monmouth freshman starter Brett Brach (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township). Senior Sean Salvatore (Southington, CT/Southington) reached first after he was hit by a pitch and with one out he stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the Monmouth catcher. Senior B.K. McLaughlin (Junction, TX/West Texas CC) flew out to left field and a throwing error by the Monmouth left fielder allowed Salvatore to score from third giving the Blue Devils the 1-0 lead.

Central Connecticut threatened again in the third putting runners on first and second on back-to-back singles by junior Jay Schillaci (McKeesport, PA/McKeesport Area) and sophomore Casey Walko (Freehold, NJ/Red Bank Catholic). Senior catcher Adam Taha (Bayville, NJ/Brookdale CC) lined into a double play to end the threat.

In the fourth Monmouth put the leadoff man on with a double to right center by junior first baseman Andy Meyers (Stratford, NJ/Sterling) but Blue Devil starting pitcher Adam Piechowski (Winsted, CT/Philadelphia Univ.) forced a pop-out and a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.

In the fourth, fifth and sixth innings Brach allowed runners to reach first and second base with two outs but he was able to battle out of each jam without allowing a run and keeping the Blue Devil lead at 1-0.

In the top of the seventh Monmouth put runners on first and second on back-to-back singles by Chris Collazo (Wall, NJ/Wall) and Mike Casale (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) with two outs but Piechowski forced a groundout to end the Monmouth threat.

Central Connecticut put the leadoff man on board via the walk in the bottom of the inning and after a sacrifice bunt Taha was hit by a pitch putting runners on first and second bringing in Monmouth reliever Matt Frazier (Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park). A single through the right side by CCSU junior Jak Kidd (Casper, WY/McCook CC) plated Schillaci and moved Taha to third. Salvatore’s safety squeeze scored Taha making it 3-0, all three runs were charged to Brach.

Monmouth scored a run with two outs in the top of the eighth inning cutting the Blue Devils lead to 3-1. After the first two batters were retired Kyle Messineo (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) was hit by a pitch and then stole second. He scored on a single up the middle by Meyers.

The Blue Devils got the run back in the bottom of the frame with a two-out RBI double by Schillaci that scored McLaughlin who had walked to lead off the inning.

Monmouth scored a single run in the top of the ninth when John Dennis (Union, NJ/Union) drove in a run with two outs to cut the lead to 4-2.

Piechowski pitched 8.2 innings for the Blue Devils allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out eight. He retired nine of 10 batters after allowing the leadoff man to reach base in the second inning. From the fourth through the six innings the senior struck out five of seven batters and allowed just one base runner. Senior Evan Scribner (Washington Depot, CT/Shepaug Valley) earned the save for CCSU pitching the final out on the ninth inning.

Brach pitched 6.1 innings allowing three runs, two earned, five hits while striking out two and walking four. He also hit three batters in the game.