Daniel Webster Earn First ECAC Bid in Baseball

NASHUA, N.H. – Fresh off its first conference regular season tournament championship, the Daniel Webster College baseball program received some icing on the cake Monday night, receiving the eighth and final at large bid to the ECAC Division III New England Championship tournament, the first in the history of the program.

The eight-seeded Eagles (21-16) will have a tall task visiting top seed Curry College (27-13) on Wednesday beginning at 3:00 p.m. in a single-elimination quarterfinal matchup. The game will be played on the campus of Bentley College in Waltham, Mass.

The Eagles become the fourth DWC athletics program to ever earn an ECAC bid including the second this season. Previous selections including the 2007 men's lacrosse squad, the 2009-2010 men's basketball team, and this past fall's men's soccer club.

The Eagles won the New England Collegiate Conference's regular season title – the first ever regular season crown in history – with an 11-4 record earning the top seed and hosting this past weekend's NECC championship tournament.

The Eagles went 3-1 in the double-elimination tourney and finished as co-champions with Mitchell College as the tournament was shortened by inclement weather.

The Eagles head into the tournament guided by three first team all conference selections including NECC Rookie of the Year Darrik Marstaller (Spofford, N.H.), along with freshman Elliot Kilgore (Milford, N.H.) and junior pitcher Kory Kiro (Goffstown, N.H.).

Curry's 27-win season included a strong 17-5 mark in Commonwealth Coast Conference play. The Colonels went 1-2 in the CCC tournament and placed eight players on the CCC all conference team including four first teamers.

In the other first round games on Wednesday, No. 2 seed Endicott (24-17) will host No. 7 Anna Maria (21-18) at a time to be determined. No. 3 Wentworth (27-14) will face No. 6 Husson (23-20) at Wentworth at 3:30 p.m. Ending the schedule is No. 4 Suffolk (21-16) taking on No. 5 Framingham (23-17) at Suffolk at a time to be determined.

On Saturday, May 15, the winner of the No.1/No.8 game will play the No.4/No. 5 winner in the first semifinal match up. The other semifinal game will be the winner of the No.3/No.6 match and the No.2/No.7 winner. Game times and location will be determined after the quarterfinal matchups.

The championship game will take place on Sunday, May 16 with the two semifinal winners. Time and location are to be determined.

ECAC RELEASE: http://www.ecacsports.com/championships/2010_Spring_Championships/new_england_baseball_release.pdf

ECAC Brackets: http://www.ecacsports.com/championships/2010_Spring_Championships/Quarterfinals_-_Day_1/NE_Baseball_Bracket2.pdf