Baseball Splits Twinbill with Husson

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State College and Husson University split a college baseball doubleheader this afternoon at BSC’s Alumni Park in Bridgewater.

The host Bears (6-4) posted a 3-1 victory in the opener, while Husson (7-8) earned a split with a 6-5 win in game two.

In the opening game, sophomore right-hander Jim Balboni (Townsend, MA) allowed one unearned run and scattered six hits over 6 2/3 innings of work to pick up his second win of the season.  Balboni (2-0) walked four, hit two batters and struck out two. 

The Bears pushed across a run in the bottom of the first as senior shortstop Brian Medairos (Brockton, MA) led off the frame with a double and scored on an RBI single by senior third baseman Mark Claffey (Bellingham, MA).

Bridgewater tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.  Senior first baseman Tom Couet (East Freetown, MA) doubled to lead off the inning but was erased on a fielder’s choice grounder.  A walk to sophomore second baseman Seob Yoon (Tokyo, Japan) put runners at first and second, and one out later Claffey knocked in his second run of the game with an RBI single.  Senior DH Matt Greenberg (Norwell, MA) followed with an RBI single scoring Yoon from second.

BSC maintained the 3-0 advantage until the seventh.  Husson had runners at the corners with one out when junior first baseman Chris Maguire (Orland, ME) cut the deficit to two with a sacrifice fly.  A walk to sophomore third baseman Jake Arthers (Belfast, ME) put two runners on and also chased Balboni from the game.  Junior right-hander Jeff Puopolo (Brockton, MA) was called on to get the final out and promptly walked the first batter he faced on four pitchers to load the bases.  Puopolo, however, picked up his first save of the season as he struck out the next batter looking to end the game.

Junior left-hander Ryan Arsenault (Portland, ME) suffered the loss on the mound for the Eagles.  Arsenault (1-2) went the distance giving up three runs on nine hits with two walks and two hit batsmen.

Medairos and Claffey each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Bears in game one.  Greenberg reached safely in all three of his plate appearances as he was hit by a pitch twice to go along with the RBI single.

Junior shortstop Ethan Guerette (Wales, ME) singled twice in four at bats for Husson.  The Eagles had six hits in the game as well as five walks and two hit batsmen, but grounded into two double plays and left 11 runners on base.

In game two, Husson jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on RBI singles by sophomore second baseman Cody Haverly-Johndro (Newport, ME) and freshman right fielder Chase Daniels (Brewer, ME).  Bridgewater answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning as freshman center fielder John Garabedian (Mansfield, MA) reached on an error and came all the way around to score on an RBI double by Couet.

The Eagles pushed across four runs in the fifth to seemingly take control of the game.  With two out and nobody on, junior center fielder Tom Crews (Bangor, ME) tripled and scored on an RBI single by sophomore DH Jason Smith (Milford, ME). A Haverly-Johndro single chased BSC junior starter Billy Blaisdell (Chelmsford, MA) and freshman reliever Bryant Warner (Harwich, MA) walked the first batter he faced to load the bases.  A passed ball plated the second run of the frame and a two-run double by sophomore left fielder Kyle Vanidestine (Bangor, ME) gave Husson the 6-1 lead.

Bridgewater came right back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Medairos singled to lead off the inning and Claffey walked to put two runners on with nobody out.  A ground out advanced the runners, and back-to-back run scoring singles by junior left fielder Ian Williams (Taunton, MA) and Garabedian cut the deficit to 6-3.  After Couet was hit by a pitch to load the bases, freshman catcher Keane Costa singled in Williams to make it a two-run game.

That would set the stage for the play of the game.  Freshman Tyler Dennis (Stoughton, MA) was called on to pinch hit and his hard ground ball up the middle seemed destined for center field.  Haverly-Johndro had other ideas however as he made a great diving play and flipped to short to start the inning ending double play.

In the sixth, Claffey walked with two outs and scored on a long triple to left-center field off the bat of Greenberg.  Husson junior starter Kyle Leeman (Bangor, ME) left the tying run at third as he induced an inning-ending ground out.

The Bears put the tying run on in the seventh as Couet walked with one out.  Senior reliever Bill Bart (Hermon, ME) came on to save it for Leeman and got a routine fly to right for the second out of the inning.  Freshman right fielder Tory Buck (Shelburne Falls, MA), who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the sixth, singled through the right side.  Couet, however, tried to advance to third but was cut down on nice throw from Daniels to end the game.

Leeman (2-1) went 6 1/3 innings giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits with four walks, two hit batsmen and three strikeouts to earn his second win of the season.  Blaisdell (0-2) was tagged with the loss as he surrendered five runs on nine hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work.

Haverly-Johndro paced the Eagles 11-hit attack as he went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.  Smith and Arthers added two hits apiece in game two.

Couet reached safely in all four plate appearances as he went 2-for-2 with a single, an RBI double, a walk and a hit by pitch.  Greenberg went 2-for-4 with a single and an RBI triple.  Bridgewater banged out ten hits in game two.

Junior right-hander Brian Guillotte (New Bedford, MA) pitched well in relief as he worked two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.