HARWICH, Mass. – Junior Sean Buckland (Lynn, Mass.) tossed a complete-game two-hitter to lead Salem State University to a 6-2 victory over MIT in the first round of the 2015 NCAA Division III New England Baseball Regional on Wednesday at Whitehouse Field. With the win, Salem State (26-13) will play in the winner's bracket tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. while MIT (25-13) will play in an elimination game at 10 a.m. 

Buckland was masterful in securing his fourth win of the season, striking out eight and retiring 24 consecutive batters between the second and ninth innings. Offensively, the Vikings were led by sophomore Colton Fontaine (Newburyport, Mass.) and senior Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, Mass.), who combined to go 3-for-7 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.

MIT started the game with momentum right away, as sophomore John Drago (Peoria, Ariz.) led off the inning with a walk. Freshman Austin Filiere (Chandler, Ariz.) continued with a double down the left field line off Buckland.

Drago scored the first run of the game on a sac fly by senior Parker Tew (Chapel Hill, N.C.). Senior Hayden Cornwell (Newport Beach, N.C.) then drove in Filiere with a ground out to second.

It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth inning that the Vikings were able to answer back. Freshman Dan Connors (Danvers, Mass.) started the inning with a walk, which was followed by a hit batter. Two hitters later, Beliveau put the Vikings on the board with a base hit, scoring Connors from third. On the ensuing play, another run scored on an error, and a sac fly by sophomore Andrew Deloury (Andover, Mass.) capped the inning for another run for the Vikings.

In the bottom of the fifth, senior K.J. Parent (Knoxville, Tenn.) took over in relief for MIT and induced a ground ball with the bases loaded, but a pair of errors led to two more Salem State runs. The Vikings then made it 6-2 on a Beliveau single.

MIT threatened in the top of the ninth as the first two batters reached base, but Buckland ended the game with a strikeout for his second consecutive complete game.

Post Game Interview