Baseball Sweeps Worcester State in MASCAC Doubleheader

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University baseball team swept a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader against Worcester State University on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The Bears (9-13, 2-4 MASCAC) won the opener by a score of 2-1, and completed the sweep with a 5-0 shutout victory in game two.

Between games, the 1996 and 1997 Bridgewater State baseball teams were honored. The 1996 squad finished third at the Division III World Series, while the '97 team placed seventh.

In game one, David Holmes (North Easton, Mass.) allowed just one run on two hits over six innings of work to record his third win of the season. Holmes (3-1) walked two and fanned three.

Connor Birch (Bellingham, Mass.) worked around a pair of singles in the seventh to record his third save of the season. Birch struck out two including the final batter of the game.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, the Bears tied the game on an RBI single off the bat of Scott O'Brien (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Ryan Kelleher (Danvers, Mass.) led of the frame with a base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a sacrifice bunt. O'Brien then reached on an infield single to plate Kelleher with the tying run.

The Bears loaded the bases with one out in the last of the fifth on three straight base hits by Travis Ritchie (Taunton, Mass.), O'Brien and Ryan Feeney (East Bridgewater, Mass.). After an out, Brandon Hoyle (Bridgewater, Mass.) singled through the hole between short and third to bring home Ritchie with the go-ahead run.

O'Brien (2-for-2, walk), Feeney (2-for-3) and Hoyle (2-for-3) all finished with two hits to highlight the BSU offense.

Tyler Barrie (Oxford, Mass.) took the loss on the mound for Worcester State in the complete game effort. Barrie (2-4) allowed two runs on ten hits over six innings of work with two walks and three strikeouts.

Brian Bonacquisti (Pittsfield, Mass.) had two of the Lancers' four hits as he singled twice in three at bats.

In game two, Shane Surette (Haverhill, Mass.) tossed six scoreless innings to notch his third win of the season as the Bears completed the sweep with the 5-0 shutout. Surette (3-2) scattered nine hits, did not walk a batter and fanned four.

Thomas Protentis (Lakeville, Mass.) worked a scoreless seventh with a pair of strikeouts to put the finishing touches on the win.

The BSU offense exploded for five runs in the fourth inning to account for all the scoring. Six of the first seven batters reached in the inning including four straight RBI singles by Drew Gentile (Lynn, Mass.), Matt Cassese (Taunton, Mass.), Devin Sanders (Fall River, Mass.) and Kelleher. Sanders knocked in two runs with his hit.

Zach Zona (Auburn, Mass.) suffered the loss on the hill for the Lancers. Zona (1-4) went the distance allowing five runs on seven hits over six innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

George Bielizna (Danbury, Conn.) and Bonacquisti each finished with multiple hits for Worcester State. Bielizna was a perfect 3-for-3, while Bonacquisti went 2-for-3 with a double.

The MASCAC schedule continues for both teams on Patriots Day. The Bears travel to Fitchburg State University for a pair of games with the Falcons, while the Lancers (10-16, 1-5 MASCAC) host a doubleheader with the Rams of Framingham State University. Both twinbills are slated to get underway at noon.