HARWICH, Mass. — Junior Bob Hamel (Southwick, Mass.) struck out nine batters over seven innings of work to help lift fourth-seeded Western New England University to a 3-1 triumph over eighth-seeded Penn State-Berks at Whitehouse Field in an elimination game of the NCAA Division III New England regional.

The Golden Bears (32-14) stay alive in the tournament when they play another elimination game on Saturday at 1 PM. Western New England takes on the loser of tonight's match-up between second-seeded Oswego State and third-seeded Keystone. 

The Nittany Lions, who were making their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, finish their season at 25-12.

Western New England took advantage of an infield miscue grab the quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first. With the bases juiced and two outs, the shortstop tried to get the easy out at second, but his throw was too high, and it permitted junior Joe Casella (Wallingford, Conn.) and classmate Alex Loparco (Riverside, Conn.) to cross home on the play.  

The Golden Bears took the 3-0 advantage when Loparco plated junior Kevin Valeriano (Stratford, Conn.) by grounding into a double play.

Penn State-Berks broke the shutout in the bottom of the sixth as junior Dalton Hughes (Boyertown, Pa.) induced a run-producing ground out to score freshman Eric Gale (Levittown, Pa.).

Western New England tacked on some insurance in the top of the ninth on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kevin Johnson (Waterford, Conn.) for the final score.

Over his seven innings of work, Hamel (7-0) scattered seven hits to go with two walks and one unearned run. Junior Sean Halligan (North Branford, Conn.) notched his first save of the campaign with a scoreless bottom of the ninth for the Golden Bears.

Senior Tyler Comport (Boyertown, Pa.) was saddled with the setback for the Nittany Lions. Comport (7-1) went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits while he walked nine and struck out four. Freshman Alex Laudenslager (Bethlehem, Pa.) tossed the final 3 2/3 frames for Penn State-Berks giving up one earned run to help keep his team in the game.

At the plate, Western New England senior Jared Rosenblatt (Avon, Conn.) went 3-for-4 while sophomore Jamie Schofield (Darien, Conn.) added two base-knocks. Sophomore Dante Salerno (Lehighton, Pa.) was the lone multi-hitter for the Nittany Lions with a 2-for-3 effort. The Golden Bears edged Penn-State Berks in the hitting department, 8-6, while both squads combined to ground into four double plays.

Steve M. Miller, Jr.