NCAA Divison 3 New England Regional baseball Tournament

Middlebury College pounded out 21 hits en route to a 14-4 victory over Salem State College in an elimination game in the 2006 NCAA Division 3 New England Regional Baseball Tournament played at Whitehouse Field in Harwich, MA. The Vikings, who ended their season with a 34-8 record, were the victim of a powerful Middlebury offense who slugged its way to the regional semifinal round. Middlebury recored eight extra base hits which included five doubles, two homeruns and a triple. The SSC defense did not commit an error. No. 4 seed SSC, playing its third game in two days. watched the No. 3 seed Panthers (26-10) jump out to a 10-3 lead over the first four innings. The Vikings won the program's first NCAA tournament game the day before, recording a dramatic eighth inning come-from-behind 8-5 decision over Southern Maine in the opening round. The elimination contest against Middlebury was halted in the top of the eighth inning when Whitehouse Field was blanketed with a heavy fog which caused a 55-minute delay with SSC trailing, 11-4. The SSC offense managed just six hits against the Panthers. Senior Andy Lougee (Lynn) and sophomore Rob Celentano (Peabody) each stroked a pair of hits for the Vikings. The 2006 Vikings made the program's third trip to the NCAA tournament a memorable one by earning the region's No. 4 seed and posting the victory over two-time national champion Southern Maine. SSC also tied the single season school record for victories (all sports included) by posting 34 wins, a mark set by the 1985 baseball team who posted a 34-6 record. The 2006 club also won the program's first ever Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference postseason tournament title when the Vikings crushed rival Bridgewater State, 17-0, May 7 at Palmer Cove Park. The program has achieved 19 postseason tournament invitations under 24-year head coach Ken Perrone. In addition to the three NCAA playoff appearances (2006, 1994, 1983), SSC has participated in 14 ECAC postseason tournaments and two MASCAC playoffs. Perrone will enter the 2007 season with a record of 547 wins, 291 losses and four ties since arrriving at SSC in 1983.