Holmes, Surette Lead Baseball to MASCAC Sweep of MCLA

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Visiting Bridgewater State received a pair of complete efforts from David Holmes and Sean Surrette as they swept the MCLA Trailblazers by scores of 1-0 and 6-2 this afternoon at Zavattaro athletics complex.

With the wins, the Bears are now 12-15 overall and sit at 4-6 in league play.  MCLA drops to 4-20 on the season and is still in search of a league win at 0-10.

Game One
Through three innings, Holmes and MCLA starter Liam Nolan were keeping the bats silent as each allowed just one hit through the early going.

Bridgewater would ultimately score the game winner in the fourth inning. After Nolan got a pop up to begin the inning, BSU's Ryan Feeney rapped a base hit up the middle to ignite the rally. After an out, Feeney stole second base to get into scoring position. Bears' designated hitter Keaghan Austin-MacInnis blooped a single over the third baseman's head easily allowing Feeney to score to give the visitors the 1-0 lead.

From there, it was all Holmes. MCLA had a golden chance to tie it in the fifth, but the Bears flashed some leather behind the right hander. MCLA's Ryan Shook singled to lead off the inning and was quickly sacrificed to second. Andrew Casteel followed with a shot down the third base line, however BSU's Mike Cassese made a diving stop of a sure double and threw Casteel out at first. Cassese's defensive play kept Shook at second base and Holmes got Nick DiSanti to fly out to end the threat.

Holmes would retire six straight Trailblazers until Shook singled with two outs in the seventh. Holmes, however, got pinch hitter Slayter Aubin swinging to end the ball game.

Feeney paced the Bears with a pair of hits in the opener. Holmes allowed just four hits and struck out seven Trailblazers.  He walked one batter as he improved to 4-1 on the season.

Nolan suffered the loss for MCLA allowing five hits and getting seven strikeouts.  Shook was a perfect 3-3 on the afternoon for the Trailblazers.

Game Two
In the nightcap, MCLA took an early lead in the first when Myles Candelet singled thru the left side scoring Bill Pulasky who singled to start the inning. Surrette would get out of further trouble by getting Shook swinging and Joe DiMassimo as well.

The Bears would take the lead for keeps in the second when they scored three times off MCLA starter Todd Hunt. With one out, Cassese was hit by a pitch and Sean Kelleher walked. Travis Ritchie singled to load the bases, but Scott O'Brien hit a ground ball back to the mound for a forceout at home. With two outs and the bags packed, Feeney once again came up clutch. He drilled a three-run double to the gap in right-center giving the Bears a 3-1 lead.

BSU would add a solo run in the third and two more in the fourth to pull away to a comfortable lead.  An MCLA error led to the run in the third while a Brandon Hoyle sacrifice fly and a Cassese RBI single plated the runs in the fourth.

From there, Surrette took over. After a lengthy first inning, he would retire 13 straight Trailblazers before a two out single in the fifth inning from Pulasky. MCLA wouldn't threaten until the seventh when they got to Surrette for another run on a Pulasky RBI base knock. Surrette, however, would end the game on a fly out to left field to earn the win.

Surette went the distance scattering seven hits and collecting seven strikeouts as he moved to 4-2 on the season. Ritchie had a pair of hits to lead the offense for Bridgewater.

Hunt absorbed the loss for MCLA going 3.1 innings and allowing five runs and five walks. Pulasky had three hits while Candelet had two for the Trailblazers.

MCLA is back in action tomorrow when they host Springfield College at 3:30pm. Bridgewater State entertains Mass. Maritime Academy in a MASCAC twinbill on Tuesday afternoon starting at two.