The Skyhawks ended the regular season with seven consecutive wins and enter this week's six-team, double-elimination Northeast-10 Conference tournament will plenty of momentum.

Fourth-seeded Stonehill (25-16, 17-9 in the conference) opens the tourney on Thursday at 7 p.m. against third-seeded New Haven (30-11, 18-8) in Rindge, N.H.

“It's a great time of the year to be playing your best baseball,” said Skyhawks coach Patrick Boen. “I have seen a different group lately, a confident group. I feel like they are playing confident and looking ahead to a challenge.”

Stonehill, which lost just once in its final 10 games, began the season 2-5 in Florida, then won five straight games when it returned home. The Skyhawks followed that with a four-game losing streak before going 18-7 the rest of the way.

“We've got a lot of upperclassmen who have been in big games before, and they didn't get too concerned earlier in the season,” said Boen. “We've got some good leaders.”

Sophomore lefthander Michael White gets the ball for Stonehill on Thursday night against New Haven.

A deep pitching staff has enabled Stonehill to reach the NE-10 tournament for the first time since 2006 after missing by one game in each of the past three seasons.

Cardinal Spellman High graduate Alex McCormick (5-3) is ranked fourth nationally in Div. 2 with a 1.38 earned run average. In nine appearances, including eight starts, McCormick has walked only five and given up just eight extra-base hits in 65 innings.

McCormick, a junior, was 1-3 with an 11.18 ERA in 17 appearances with one start in his first two seasons before becoming one of the top pitchers in the NE-10.

“I think the difference is his confidence level,” said Boen. “He challenges hitters. He is throwing strikes all the time.”

“The one thing that I noticed is how hard he worked in the offseason. He was always the guy doing the extra work in the weight room or the extra running. Now he is seeing the results.''

Sophomore Michael White (4-2, 2.77) will start against New Haven in the tourney opener. He has three complete games and has given up just 39 hits in 52 innings.

White, who also plays soccer at Stonehill, produces at the plate as well, hitting .303 with 27 hits in 25 games.

Eric Haughn of Pembroke (3-2, 3.09), Bryan Galligan of Brockton (3-3) and Matt Olsen (2-2, 3.03) are the other starters.

Junior Angelo Bruno has also been an offensive leader for the Skyhawks with eight homers and 31 RBI. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

In the bullpen, Michael Von Stein is 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA and five saves.

“He's pitched every role we've needed him,” said Boen. “Our closer, Brendan Shepard, got hurt and he became our closer. He's been terrific.”

Leadoff hitter Mitch Davis (.319) sets the tone for the lineup with Angelo Bruno (.294) hitting a team-best eight homers with 35 RBI. Rich McHugh of Pembroke is batting .347 with seven doubles and 14 RBI.

Stonehill finished the regular season by sweeping New Haven on Sunday, 4-2 and 7-3.

“I'm just really excited for the team,” said Boen, whose team is hoping to earn an NCAA Div. 2 tourney berth next week. “They never panicked all season long.”

Top-seeded Southern Connecticut meets sixth-seeded Merrimack and second-seeded Franklin Pierce plays fifth-seeded Adelphi in the other opening-round games on Thursday. The tourney continues Friday and Saturday with the championship round on Sunday.