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GAME SEVEN
#2 Central Connecticut 3, #1 Bryant 2
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Norwich, CT –  Chris Kanios doubled and came around to score the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, but he certainly wasn't the lone hero for Central Connecticut on Championship Sunday.

“We are the definition of being a team. We’ve been a team all year long,” said Kanios, who was hitless in 13 consecutive NEC Tournament at-bats before going 2-for-3 with two important base knocks during Sunday’s final.

The team's long list of contributors must start with senior hurler Tom Curtin. After tossing a complete-game shutout against Wagner on Thursday, CCSU's veteran right-hander took the ball for Sunday's final against top-seeded Bryant on two days rest.

Curtin clawed through 5.2 quality frames, scattering eights hits and allowing only two sixth-inning runs.

Curtin's Iron Man-like performance gave the Blue Devils an opportunity to stay with the Bulldogs, who have boasted the conference's top-ranked offense throughout the spring, and it landed the senior the Tournament MVP award.

Curtin and CCSU relievers Brandon Fox and Jared Gallagher had the benefit of a stellar defense behind them. The Blue Devils turned four double plays in the game, including one to close out the ninth inning.

"This team battles," said Kanios. "We've gone through so much stuff together.  To do it like this, to come out of the losers’ bracket and beat [Bryant] twice, it’s special."

Like his CCSU counterpart, Bryant senior southpaw Steve Theetge turned in a MVP-caliber effort on Sunday. He threw a three-hit shutout against Sacred Heart on Thursday and returned to start the tournament final.

Theetge and Curtin matched zeroes for the first four frames until Central Connecticut finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth.

With two outs and a runner on third base, Kanios hit a slow roller to second base and busted it down the line for a RBI infield single.

Bryant quickly responded in the top half of the sixth frame, taking a 2-1 lead thanks to a pair of clutch, two-out hits. First, catcher Sam Owens singled home Chris Wright. Then, Gaby Cruz sent a double into the left-field corner to plate Owens.

CCSU evened the score at 2-2 when all-NEC outfielder Dave Matthews led off the seventh inning by lifting an opposite-field home run over the left-center wall.

"[My approach was to] try to hit something hard. Luckily, I elevated it enough to get it out of here," said Matthews. "Off the bat, I knew."

CCSU's Buddy Dewaine along with Gallagher and TT Bowens joined Curtin on the nine-member NEC All-Tournament Team.

Bowens, who was the 2017 Tournament MVP as a freshman, battled back from two knee surgeries to re-join the Blue Devils' lineup in early April. In five games this week, the burly first baseman hit .389 with three extra-base hits, three walks and three RBI.

"He's just special," said Matthews of his teammate. "He's different, a different breed."

2019 NEC All-Tournament Team
Tom Curtin, RHP (CCSU) - MVP
Jared Gallagher, LHP (CCSU)
Buddy Dewaine, 3B (CCSU)
TT Bowens, 1B (CCSU)
Steve Theetge, LHP (BRY)
Gaby Cruz, DH (BRY)
Jimmy Titus, SS (BRY)
Freddy Sabido, DH (WAG)
Tyler Sanfillippo, 1B (WAG)