Baseball Defeated 8-3 by Southern Maine

Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. --- Junior Chris Burleson (Portland, ME-SS) smashed a grand-slam in the top of the eighth inning to help lift the University of Southern Maine to an 8-3 victory over host Bridgewater State College in non-conference baseball action this afternoon at Alumni Field.

Winners of seven staight games, the Huskies improve to 11-4 with the win while the Bears fall to 9-4 with the loss.

Burleson paced USM going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI’s while sophomore Josh Mackey (Danvers, MA-2B) went 2-for-5 with one run batted in.

For BSC, senior Steve Smith (East Taunton, MA-LF) went 2-for-4 while crossing the plate and plating a run once. Junior Brad Koneski (N. Dighton, MA-CF) went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored.

With a single in the sixth and a double in the eighth, Smith has now broken the record for the most total bases his career at Bridgewater State. Smith eclipsed Ed Grueter’s (1988-91) mark of 291 total bases with 293.

Sophomore southpaw Mark Schmidt (Gorham, ME) went the first five innings with a no hitter for USM, retiring 14 of the first 17 batters he faced. Schmidt (3-0) went 6 1/3 innings giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits while allowing one walk. He also struck out six batters.

Sophomore Spencer Hatstat (Clinton, MA) started the game for BSC giving up four runs on three hits to go along with four walks and two strikeouts. With the loss, Hatstat’s now record now stands at 2-1 on the season.

The Huskies jumped on the board scoring three runs in the first inning. After Hatstat walked the first two batters, senior Eddie Skeffington (Everett, MA-CF) plated Burleson for USM’s first run. Another walk loaded the bases, sophomore Collin Henry (Penobscot, ME-1B) and Skeffington scored on back-to-back fielder’s choice plays.

USM added another run on a sacrifice fly by Anthony D’Alfonso (Westbrook, ME-DH) in the top of the fifth inning.

Koneski broke the no-hitter in the sixth on a double to leftfield. After junior Kenny Downey (Braintree, MA-2B) reached on an error, Smith drove in Koneski from second and both runners on-base would advance on a miscue in the outfield. BSC would score their second run when junior Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA-C) would reach first on an error by the shortstop scoring Downey from third. Freshman Jeff Poupolo (Brockton, MA-RF) added the Bears third run plating Smith with a sacrifice fly.

Trailing 4-3, the Bears threatened to take the lead with runners on second and third with one-out in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore right-hander Andrew deBethune (St. Albans, ME) then came into the game to relive Schmidt and retire the side on two strait groundouts.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth, Burleson would break the game open with the grand-slam for his third home-run of the season.

Both teams will play conference double-headers on either Saturday or Sunday, depending on the weather at noon. The Bears will host Salem State while the Huskies travel to Providence, RI to take on Rhode Island College. In game one, Senior Martin Anderson (Meriden, CT) will takes the mound for BSC while freshman Greg Potts (Milton, MA) will get the nod in game two.

Release written by Steven M. Miller, Jr --- Sports Information Correspondent