APPLETON, Wis. —  The University of Southern Maine Huskies’ record-breaking season came to an end Tuesday as Linfield College sophomore right-hander Chris Haddeland held them to one run on eight hits for a 4-1 verdict in the championhsip game of the NCAA Division III tournament at Fox Cities Stadium.

Southern Maine, making its seventh trip to the national tournament, ended the season with a school record 46 wins, breaking the previous mark of 39 set by the 1997 team, and a final mark of 46-10. The Huskies advanced to the national championship game by beating Ithaca, 5-4, in 13 innings earlier in the day.

Haddeland survived a shaky first inning when he surrendered the Huskies’ only run. He got out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the fourth inning, and the Huskies did not advance a runner past first base over the final five innings. The first team All-American struck out five and finished the season with a 15-1 record.

Southern Maine sophomore Andrew Richards, who was the winner in the game against Ithaca after hurling 12 innings in relief, started the title game and cruised through the first three innings before surrendering four runs (three earned) in the bottom of the fourth. Richards allowed four hits, one walk and hit three while striking out one to take the loss. He finished the season at 11-3.

The Huskies jumped on Haddeland for a run in the top of the first as freshman Sam Dexter opened the game with a double down the right field line. He advanced to third on a single by junior John Carey and scored on a wild pitch. Haddeland walked senior Tucker White to give USM first and second with no outs before bearing down to strike out the next two hitters and getting the third out on a grounder to third.

The Wildcats scored all their runs in the fourth. Junior Nick Fisher opened the frame with a double to left center. After a foul out, junior Kramer Lindell singled to move Fisher to third. Junior Clayton Truex lashed a single to center field that USM junior Forrest Chadwick just missed making a diving catch on bringing Fisher home with the first run. Lindell and Truex moved up an extra base when Chadwick’s throw to the plate got away.

Richards intentionally passed senior Jordan Harlow  to load the bases. Senior Kyle Chamberlain laid down a bunt single to plate Lindell with the go ahead run, and Richards hit senior Michael Hopp with a pitch to force in another run and end Richards’ remarkable day.

Junior southpaw Logan Carman came on in relief of Richards to induce a potential inning-ending double play ball. Carman got the first out at home, but the relay throw to first got away allowing Chamberlain to score the fourth run. Carman got the final out on a popout, but the damage was done.

Carman went 4.2 innings giving up three hits and one walk while striking out one. He got out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning by striking out Hopp.

USM senior Nick Grady was the lone batter for either team to record two hits.

Southern Maine will be returning to Boston Wednesday morning at approximately 10:45 a.m., and then busing to Gorham with an expected arrival time of 1:30 to 2 p.m.

NOTES: Named to the all-tournament team from Southern Maine were freshman pitcher Tyler Leavitt, junior outfielder Troy Thibodeau and Richards. Haddeland was picked as the Most Outstanding Player. He was joined on the all-tourney team by three teammates — sophomore pitcher Aaron Thomassen, Truex and junior designated hitter Jake Wylie. Senior shortstop Dan Douglass from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and junior third baseman Colby Gee and junior shortstop Tim Locastro from Ithaca round out the 11-man team … Southern Maine will lose six seniors from this year’s team. Departing the Huskies are outfielder Tucker White, third baseman Nick Grady, second baseman Anthony Pisani, pitcher Ryan Yates of Norway, catcher Zach Fernandes and first baseman Brett Barrett … The two Southern Maine-Linfield games were an NCAA finals record for the furthest distance between opponents — a distance of more than 3,000 miles … Richards set a single-season record for innings pitched. He finished the season hurling 104 innings.

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