Nashua – Host and tournament top-seed Daniel Webster along with second seeded Mitchell earned opening day victories at the New England Collegiate Conference baseball tournament Friday at Harvey Woods Field.
Daniel Webster, the defending champion, topped fourth-seeded Becker, 3-1 in the day's opener while Mitchell held off third-seeded Elms, 7-6 in the nightcap.
Becker and Elms will meet in an elimination game on Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m., while the Eagles and Mariners will face off at 1:00 p.m. The day concludes with an elimination game at 4:00 p.m.
The tournament, which automatically sends its champion to the NCAA tourney, concludes on Sunday.
Game 1: Daniel Webster 3, Becker 1
The host Eagles (25-9) were backed by another superb complete-game effort from senior Greg Dubela (Stratham, N.H.), who remained undefeated on the season improving to 8-0, scattering five hits and allowing one run unearned run, striking out five and walking two.
Dubela was locked for the most part in a pitching duel with Becker's Nick Lemay (Oxford, Mass.), who was solid throughout in limiting the Eagles to just three hits on the day and took the loss (3-4) striking out three and walking three.
Becker (11-25) took the lead in the fourth as Chris Flanders (Londonderry, N.H.) stroked a two-out double to right, moved to third on an Austin Phillips (Thomson, Ga.) single, and scored on an infield error.
DWC finally made the best of its three hits with a pivotal and game-changing sixth inning keyed by the bat of senior Darrik Marstaller (Spofford, N.H.).
Senior Joe Morin (Pelham) reached on a fielder's choice for the first out, Josh Chasse (Haverhill, Mass.) singled, and Marstaller cranked a line drive that hugged the left field line to score both and give the Eagles the 2-1 lead.
After Kyle Brigham (Hudson, N.H.) grounded out moving Marstaller to third, Elliot Kilgore (Milford, N.H.) drew a walk and then combined for a double steal, allowing Marstaller to swipe home for the third run.
From there, Dubela, who lowered his season ERA to a miniscule 1.07, allowed just two base runners, while Lemay allowed just one.