Baseball Splits Doubleheader Versus Westfield

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. --- The Bridgewater State College baseball team split a MASCAC doubleheader with Westfield State this afternoon at Alumni Park. Sophomore Kevin Lyons (Braintree, MA-DH) helped the Owls take game one, 7-5, with a grand slam in the third inning and then the Bears rebounded to take the nightcap, 4-1.

With the split, the Bears move to 15-11 overall and 6-4 in the MASCAC while Westfield leaves the game at 17-10-1 and 7-3 in conference play.

BSC is now in a three-way tie for third place with Worcester and Salem as the Lancers swept the Vikings, 3-0 and 2-0, earlier this afternoon. The Owls now sit in first place while MCLA moves to second with their sweep of Fitchburg.

In game one, the Bears jumped to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Mark Claffey (Bellingham, MA-3B) scored on a wild pitch and freshman Steven Lambert (Milton, MA-RF) crossed the plate for the second run on an RBI ground-out by senior Dana Hansen (Hanover, MA-DH).

Westfield touched BSC starting pitcher Martin Anderson (Meriden, CT) for six runs in the top of the third to take a 6-2 lead. Shortstop Justin Parr (North Attleboro, MA) led off the inning with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Anderson then allowed a walk on an infield single to load the bases. Parr and Scott McIntyre (Bristol, CT-RF) each scored on bases-loaded walks and then Lyons smashed a grand-slam to right-center to cap off the scoring for the Owls.

Bridgewater State responded and cut the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 6-4. Lambert drove in junior Brad Koneski (N. Dighton, MA-2B) with an RBI single and senior Steve Smith (East Taunton, MA-LF) plated Claffey with a sacrifice fly.

Westfield went up 7-4 in the top of the fourth. With runners on first and third, the Owls scored when Parr crossed the plate on a balk by Anderson.

The Bears made the score 7-5 when Smith scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth. BSC threatened to score another run when junior Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA-C) moved into scoring position on the passed ball after reaching first on a single.

With one out, sophomore Dave Glass (Pittsfield, MA) was summoned out of the bullpen and he retired the final two batters to end the sixth. Glass notched his first save of the season and the team’s 10th save after he pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Junior righthander Steve Sullivan (Quincy, MA) improved his record to 3-1 with the victory. Sullivan went 5 1/3 innings giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits while allowing two walks. He also struck out three batters.

Anderson (3-2) went the distance pitching all seven innings for the Bears. The righthander absorbed the loss allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits. He tied his season-high with three walks while also tallying four strikeouts.

For Westfield, Lyons finished game one 4-for-4 with four RBI’s and a run scored while three other Owls tallied hits.

Lambert went 2-for-4, with an RBI and a run scored for the BSC while Claffey chipped in with two runs scored.

In game two, freshman Greg Potts (Milton, MA) hurled four shutout innings until he allowed a run in the fifth on an RBI single by junior Brad King (Perth, Ontario-LF). Potts (4-1) allowed one run over six innings while scattering five hits to go along with two walks and one punchout.

Sophomore Jeff Fields (Pittsfield, MA) was tagged for his first loss of the season on the mound for the Owls. Fields (1-1) allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits. He also walked two and struck out one batter.

Bridgewater State went up 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Brian Medairos (Brockton, MA-SS) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly and then Hansen scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch.

The Bears pushed across two more runs in the bottom of the fifth make the score a 4-0 advantage. Medairos plated junior Dave Kiloski (Lowell, MA-1B) with a ground-out and then Koneski drove in senior JT Mooney (North Attleboro, MA-CF) for BSC’s second run.

With the 4-1 lead, senior Brian Schilling (Weymouth, MA) closed the door, pitching a perfect seventh inning to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Mooney went 2-for-3 with a run scored to pace the Bears in game two while Medairos added two RBIs. For the Owls, King went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Koneski finished his afternoon with swiping four bases on the afternoon with two in each game.

Smith finished his afternoon with five official at-bats and broke the career mark of Brian Desantes, who played from 1994 to 1997, with 507 AB’s. With 213 base-hits, Smith is also three bags away from breaking Ed Gruter’s (1988-91) career hits record of 215.

Both teams will travel on Monday to face-off against MASCAC opponents. Bridgewater State will be entertained by Fitchburg State at noon while Westfield will travel to Framingham for a 1 P.M matchup.

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