CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Top-seeded MIT generated eight runs in the seventh inning and then thwarted No. 2 WPI's late rally to hold on for a 9-8 victory in the ECAC New England Division III Baseball Championship on Sunday. Junior David Hesslink (San Diego, Calif.) was named the Most Outstanding Player for the tournament as he earned a complete game win in MIT's semifinal match-up with Massachusetts Maritime Academy, totaling seven strikeouts, seven hits, and two walks.

WPI (27-14) opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first. Junior Nick Comei (Haverhill, Mass.) reached on a fielding error and then moved to third courtesy of senior Alex Venditti's (Newton, Mass.) double to center field. Senior John Mulready (Rockland, Mass.) followed with a single to right center, plating both base runners for the 2-0 lead.

The visitors tacked on another run in the next inning, which started with a single by senior John Caliri (Hanson, Mass.) to right field. He eventually moved over to third following a single by sophomore Evan Lacroix (Methuen, Mass.) and bunt from senior Vinny D'Ambrosio (Mahopac, N.Y.) before crossing the plate on a passed ball.

MIT (23-14) ended the shutout in the bottom of the sixth, making the scoring 3-1. Senior Kendall Helbert (St. Louis, Mo.) led off with a triple to right field and was brought home by junior John Drago's (Peoria, Ariz.) single to third base. The hosts carried the momentum into the next frame by rattling off eight runs to claim the lead.

WPI responded with two runs in the top of the eighth, closing the gap to 9-5. A fielding error put senior Anthony Capuano (Stoneham, Mass.) on base who later scored following singles from senior DJ Ouellette (Watertown, Conn.) and D'Ambrosio with two outs. A walk to Comei loaded the bases as a wild pitch allowed Ouellette to score.

The visitors continued their late rally into the final frame. Beginning with singles from senior Sean Greene (Hingham, Mass.) and freshman Steven Gallagher (Coventry, R.I.) and a fielder's choice by Capuano, Greene later crossed the plate on a fielding error. Another fielder's choice and error resulted in a run for Gallagher that trimmed the deficit to 9-7. The next at bat ended in a double play but it pushed Capuano across the plate. Lacroix kept the rally going after being hit by a pitch; however, he was thrown out by Helbert at second when he attempted to advance following a pitch in the dirt.

Freshman Zeke Long (Albuquerque, N.M.) entered the game in the fifth inning and came away with the win after yielding three hits during three innings of work while sophomore Garrett Greenwood (Edmond, Okla.) moved from centerfield to record the final out and earn the save. Senior Nate Rodman (Corvallis, Ore.) and sophomore Max Lancaster (Attleboro, Mass.) both went 2-for-3 and produced two RBI and one run.

Mulready powered WPI's offense with a 4-for-4 day that featured a double and two RBI. Junior Mike Vaitkunas (Auburn, Mass.) was charged with loss as he posted eight hits, four strikeouts, and two walks in six and one-third innings.