MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sean Buckland pitched to within an out of his seventh complete game of the season and eighth-seeded Salem State University scored five runs in the third to wipe out an early deficit and upend top-seeded Wheaton College (MA), 7-4, in the second game of the NCAA Division III New England Regional Baseball Tournament Wednesday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium.
Salem State (24-18-1) moves into a winners’ bracket game Thursday at 4:30 p.m. against first-game winner Keystone College, while Wheaton (30-12) plays an elimination game Thursday at 10 a.m. against first-game loser Suffolk University.
The left-handed Buckland, who had finished six of his first eight starts this year, retired 14 straight after giving up a first-inning two-run home run to No. 3 hitter Matt Lavanchy. With Salem leading by three in the bottom of the ninth, an infield error and double Mike Beneduce put two runners in scoring position, but closer Pete Gonski came on to get a swinging strikeout to end the game and record his fourth savc.
Down 2-0, the Vikings went ahead for good by batting around and scoring five runs in the top of the third off Wheaton starter Michael Bruemmel (3-5) on three hits and four walks. No. 9 hitter Mac Daniel Singelton started the inning with a double and Dan Connors later drove in two runs with a single.
Buckland (9-0) allowed only six hits while fanning seven, hitting a batter and walking two. Jordan Jenkins pitched 5 2/3 solid innings of middle relief to give the Lyons an opportunity to bounce back from a 5-2 deficit. Jenkins was touched for only two runs on five hits.
Davis and Singleton each had two hits for Salem, as did Wheaton leadoff hitter Jimmy Smith.
