By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (March 31-April 6) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
TUESDAY
BASEBALL, at UMass Dartmouth, 3:30 PM: The Bears, off to a 10-7 start with eight wins in the last nine games, are on the road to face the Corsairs (10-8, 3-1 Little East).
The teams last met in 2023 with BSU scoring six runs in the sixth inning for a 6-5 victory to complete a doubleheader sweep.
UMass Dartmouth went 6-3 on a trip to Florida during the spring break.
MEN'S TENNIS, at home, Emerson College, 3:30 PM: The Bears (1-2 with two losses in a row) host Emerson (6-8, two straight wins).
BSU lost to Emerson, 7-2, a year ago.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE, at home, Plymouth State, 6:00 PM:
The Bears (9-1) put a five-game winning streak on the line when they host the Panthers (6-2, 1-0 Little East).
Head Coach Erica Adams (91-63, .591), who is in her tenth season with the Bears, is one win away from breaking a tie with BSU Hall of Famer Erika Smith (91-35, .722) for the program's all-time coaching lead.
BSU has lost eight of the last nine meetings with Plymouth State, including an 18-4 decision last season. The Panthers lead the series, 26-10.
This will be Excel/Best Buddies Night at Mazzaferro Field.
THURSDAY
SOFTBALL, at home, UMass Boston, 3:00 and 5:00 PM:
The Beacons begin this week with a 14-0 record, including 10 wins in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
UMass Boston has won six of seven games against the Bears, including a sweep last season, 8-3 and 11-3.
BSU is 8-6, including 1-3 at Alumni Park.
FRIDAY
BASEBALL, at home, Salem State, 3:00 PM: The Bears open a three-game Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference series with the Vikings (5-8, 2-1 conference).
The teams met three times in the regular season a year ago with Salem State winning twice.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE, at home, Westfield State, 7:00 PM: The Bears return to the MASCAC by hosting the Owls (3-7, 1-0 conference) under the lights.
Westfield State defeated BSU, 18-12, last season for their sixth win in the last seven meetings.
SATURDAY
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Amherst Spring Fling, 10:00 AM: The Bears have their first of four meets in April, traveling to Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium on the campus of Amherst College.
Last season, Chigozie Adigwe (Lowell, Mass.) was second in the 110 hurdles and Corey Stalters (Norton, Mass.) was second in the shot put for BSU.
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Amherst Spring Fling, 10:00 AM: The Bears had four winners at the meet a year ago.
Alison McDonough (Halifax, Mass.) won the long jump, Jailene Escalera (Rockland, Mass.) placed first in the 100, Kiara Abrantes (Somerset, Mass.) won the 400 and Serenity Sands (East Bridgewater, Mass.) took the high jump.
MEN'S TENNIS, at Southern Maine, Noon: The Bears travel north to take on the Huskies in Portland.
BSU defeated Southern Maine, 8-1, in 2023 and won by a 9-0 forfeit last season. Both teams are off to 1-2 starts.
SOFTBALL, at Salem State, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM: After sweeping a twinbill from the Vikings in the regular season a year ago, 10-7 and 9-8, the Bears were eliminated from the MASCAC tourney, 8-0, in five innings by Salem State.
The Vikings are 8-8, including 1-1 in the MASCAC, and have won five of six home games.
BASEBALL, at Salem State, Noon and 2:30 PM: The teams square off in a rematch of the 2024 MASCAC championship game won by BSU to advance to the NCAA Division III tournament.
SUNDAY
MEN'S TENNIS, Vermont State Castleton, 2:00 PM: The match was rescheduled after being postponed on March 29.
The Bears defeated the Spartans, 7-2, last season and have won four straight in the series.