Salve Regina wins elimination game in NCAAs to advance

HARWICH, Mass. -- Junior Alex Perry (North Attleboro, Mass.) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI as Salve Regina University defeated Penn State-Berks 12-4 in the first elimination game of the 2017 NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional Championship Friday morning at Whitehouse Field.
 
The Seahawks (35-11) advance in the tournament and will take on the loser of the #2 Arcadia/#6 Suffolk game that will be played later this evening, in an elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.  Penn State-Berks see their season come to a close at 20-21.
 
Salve Regina junior John Militano (Miller Place, N.Y.) recorded three of the Seahawks 18 hits and drove in two runs, while classmate Christian Vargas (Melbourne, Fla.) went 3-for-6 with an RBI. Colton Eremian (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Zack Smith (New Canaan, Conn.) recorded two hits apiece for the Seahawks.
 
Salve Regina took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI double from Perry and an RBI single to left by Vargas.  Penn State-Berks answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.  Junior Cory Fox (Boyertown, Pa.) singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Sophomore Toby Welk (Downingtown, Pa.) followed with a two run home run to left field tying the game.
 
Salve Regina retook the lead in the top of the fourth with three runs scoring on sacrifice flies from Hunter Sleeper (Arlington, Mass.) and Perry and an RBI single by Militano.  Penn State-Berks cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs on RBI singles from Brandon Griesemer (Boyertown, Pa.) and John McGarvey (Wilmington, Del.), but the Seahawks added two runs in the top of sixth, two in the seventh and three in the ninth to reach the final margin.
 
Freshman Patrick Maybach (Saunderstown, R.I.) earned the victory on the hill for the Seahawks going six innings and allowing four runs, all earned, on eight hits with eight strikeouts and a walk.  Junior Jonathan Lynch (Cumberland, R.I.) tossed three innings of scoreless relief allowing just one hit as he recorded his third save of the season.  Senior Zack Reis (Womelsdorf, Pa.) took the loss for the Lions going four innings and allowing five runs, all earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts and three walks.