New London, CT --- Sohomore Cameron Carroll's (Reno, NV) RBI single in the top of the ninth broke a 3-3 tie and started a three-run rally as sixth-seeded Coast Guard tied the single-season school record for wins with a 7-4 victory over third-seeded Worcester State in the first round of the ECAC Division III New England tournament at the Coast Guard Academy.
Coast Guard (21-15), tied the single-season school record of 21 wins set in 1994 and won a postseason game for just the second time in program history with the other coming in the first round of the ECAC tournament in 2002.
Worcester State ends their season at 23-15 in their sixth ECAC Tournament appearance.
The Bears will take on seventh-seeded Anna Maria in the semifinals on Saturday with the highest remaining seed heading into the weekend hosting both the semifinals on Saturday and the championship game on Sunday. Anna Maria upset second-seeded Brandeis, 8-5.
Carroll's single to left scored classmate Mike Massaro who was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. Sophomore Joe Petry's (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) two-run single to center gave the Bears a 7-4 lead.
Coast Guard used an RBI double from Massaro to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and the Bears added two runs in the third on an RBI ground out by Massaro and an RBI single by senior Graham Sherman for a 3-0 lead.
Worcester State got two back in the third, both unearned, on a sacrifice fly by senior Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA) before another run scored on a passed ball.
The Bears added a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Tyler Babkiewich (Golden, CO) for a 4-2 lead.
The Lancers tied the game 4-4 with two in the seventh again scoring on a sacrifice fly, this time by sophomore Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's), before tying the game on a passed ball.
Sophomore Derek Petty pitched seven solid innings for Coast Guard and scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run while walking five and striking out five.
Senior Jesse Karr (Milan, MI) (5-4) pitched a scoreless eighth to pickup the win while sophomore Tyler Vieira (Dumfries, VA) allowed a single and struck out three in the ninth to nail down his eighth save of the season extending his own single-season school record.
Sophomore Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) started for the Lancers and went 6 1/3 innings and allowing eight hits and four runs, all earned, while walking four and striking out eight. Sophomore closer Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) (3-3) gave up the three runs in the ninth to take the loss.
Sophomore Eric Gerken (Tampa, FL) was 3 for 4 for Coast Guard while Sherman and sophomore Nolan Gallagher (N. Milford, CT) each added two hits in the win for the Bears.
Senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) closed out his career by going 3 for 3 with two runs scored while junior Joe Eramo and sophomore Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) each added two hits for the Lancers who finish the season 23-15.
Release Courtesy of Coast Guard Sports Information