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Lynn native and Salem State University pitcher Sean Buckland pitched a great game to lift the Vikings to a win in the NCAA Division III New England Regional Baseball Tournament against Wheaton College on Wednesday.
Lynn native and St. Mary’s graduate Sean Buckland pitched to within an out of his seventh complete game of the season as eighth-seeded Salem State topped Wheaton College, 7-4, in the NCAA Division III New England Regional Baseball Tournament Wednesday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium in Mansfield, CT.
Salem State (24-18-1) moves into a winners’ bracket game Thursday at 4:30 p.m. against Keystone College.
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 Wheaton’s Matt Lavanchy. With Salem leading by three in the bottom of the ninth, an infield error and double put two runners in scoring position, but Vikings closer Pete Gonski came on to get a strikeout to end the game and record his fourth save.
Down 2-0, the Vikings grabbed the lead 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. Salem State’s Mac Daniel Singleton started the inning with a double, and Dan Connors, of Danvers, later drove in two runs with a single.
Buckland (9-0) allowed only six hits while fanning seven, hitting a batter and walking two.
Davis and Singleton each had two hits for Salem, as did Wheaton leadoff hitter Jimmy Smith.