Baseball Falls to Mount Saint Mary, 3-1

Box Score 

COCOA, Fla. -- The Bridgewater State College baseball team suffered its' first loss of the season as the Bears dropped a 3-1 decision to Mount Saint Mary College on Sunday afternoon at the Cocoa Expo Center.

Despite a strong starting pitching performance out of junior right-hander Dave Liffers (Norwell, MA), the BSC defense committed three critical errors in the final three inning which ultimately cost the Bears the game.

Breaking a scoreless tie in the seventh, the Bears scored a run on an RBI single by junior Dave Kiloski (Lowell, MA). Kiloski's hit plated junior catcher Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA) from third base.  LaDow had led off the inning with a base hit and moved to third on back-to-back ground outs.

The Blue Knights scored the tying run and took the lead in the bottom half of the seventh. After getting the first out, Liffers gave up a walk and a single to bring junior Dennis Jennette (East Broofield, MA) out of the bullpen.

Jennette promptly gave up a single that drove in sophomore Mark Derosa (Valley Stream, NY) with the tying run followed by a walk to load the bases. Sophomore Mike Umphlett (North Stonington, CT) hit a line-drive right at senior second baseman Kenny Downey (Braintree, MA) for the second out of the inning, but Downey's throw to double the runnner up at first got away which allowed the go ahead run to score.

In the eighth Jennette retired the first two batters, but an infield fielding error kept the inning alive for Mount Saint Mary.  Following a single, the Blue Knights capitalized on a misplayed ball on a base hit to left to tack on a big insurance run.

Liffers (0-1) suffered the loss for the Bears allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking one. 

Mount Saint Mary leftie Kyle Smith (1-0), who came in relief of junior started Frank Snyder, was credited with the win.  Smith tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief allowing two hits while striking out two and walking one.  Snyder went 6 2/3 innings giving up just the one run on six hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

The Bears had a frustrating afternoon at the plate leaving seven runners left on base and five in scoring position. The Blue Knights also left 10 men stranded on the bases.

Offensively for the Bears, LaDow went 2-for-4 and scored BSC’s only run.  Downey also finished 2-for-4.

Sophomore second baseman Brian Visconti (Newburg, NY) paced Mount Saint Mary going 3-for-3, while freshman first baseman William Casey (Marlboro, NY) finished the game 2-for-3.

The Bears continue their annual spring training trip to Cocoa, FL when they face Old Westbury in a double header at 11:30 am at the Cocoa Expo Stadium. Starting in game 1 will be sophomore Spencer Hatstat (Clinton, MA) and then junior transfer Jeff Sarahs (Whitman, MA) will make his BSC debut in game 2.

Story by Steven M. Miller, Jr --- Sports Information Correspondent.