By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (May 5 - 11) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
WEDNESDAY
SOFTBALL, at home, Salem State, 3:30 PM: The fourth-seeded Bears open the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament by hosting the fifth-seeded Vikings at Alumni Park.
BSU was eliminated by Salem State in this round a year ago on the road, losing, 8-0, in a game halted in the fifth inning.
The Bears are 19-17 and went 8-6 in the MASCAC. BSU is on a three-game winning streak and finished the regular season by winning seven of the last eight games, including a doubleheader sweep of top-seeded Westfield State Saturday.
Salem State is 17-18 and went 5-8 in the MASCAC. The Vikings lost six of their last eight games.
The BSU-Salem State winner advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament later in the week.
THURSDAY
BASEBALL, at home, TBD, 3:00 PM: The top-seeded Bears begin the defense of their MASCAC tourney championship against either fourth-seeded Worcester State or fifth-seeded Salem State.
BSU has won three MASCAC titles in a row and is the only program to accomplish that.
Worcester State and Salem State will meet at noon at Alumni Park with the winner advancing to play the Bears to open the double-elimination portion of the tourney.
BSU went 2-1 against Worcester State (23-13, 12-9 MASCAC), winning by scores of 10-7 and 11-6, and losing, 20-1.
Salem State is 17-16 and went 12-9 in the conference. The Vikings were swept by the Bears, 5-4 in 11 innings, 4-2 and 18-2.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the NEICAAA Championships, 10:00 AM: The Bears travel to the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association event, hosted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Student-athletes from all three divisions in the region will compete.
BSU had two All-NEICAAA performers a year go as Corey Stalters (Norton, Mass.) was fourth in the javelin and first among Division III competitors while Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) took fourth in the 800.
The Bears were 23rd in the team standings with 10 points.
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the NEICAAA Championships, 10:00 AM: The Bears take part in the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association event at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Student-athletes from all three divisions in the region will compete.
Last season, Serenity Sands (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Jailene Escalera (Rockland, Mass.) were All-NEICAAA performers.
Sands was fourth in the high jump and Escalera was sixth in the 200.
Alison McDonough (Halifax, Mass.) was fourth in the 100 hurdles in 2023.