Baseball Splits MASCAC Twinbill with Framingham

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Bridgewater State University and host Framingham State University split a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Bowditch Field.  The Rams won the opener, 7-2, while the visiting Bears earned the split with a 4-3 victory in game two.

Both teams are an identical 1-1 in the MASCAC, while the loss in game two snapped a six game win streak for the Rams who are now 11-8 on the year.  The Bears are now 10-11 on the season.

In the opener, Framingham used a six run fourth inning that saw the hosts bat around to break open a scoreless game.  Freshman Cam Couillard (North Andover, Mass) and junior Will Crofton (Hopkinton, Mass.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles.  After an out, senior Pedro Acevedo (Fall River, Mass.) delivered an RBI double scoring Couillard, and sophomore Matt Roberge (Lowell, Mass.) followed with a two-run single up the middle.  Sophomore Justin Forman (Watertown, Mass.) followed with a walk and Tony Iafolla (Medfield, Mass.) doubled down the leftfield line driving in Roberge to put the Rams up 4-0.  Framingham would add two more in the frame on an RBI single from senior Chris Blydell (Lynn, Mass.) and a bases loaded walk by Crofton.

A single run in the fifth on an RBI base hit from Iafolla would extend the Rams lead to 7-0 as starting pitcher Matt DiCato (Winthrop, Mass.) surrendered only two hits and allowed just five base runners through the first five innings.

Bridgewater was finally able to get the offense going against DiCato in the sixth.  Senior Ian Williams (Taunton, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt.  Two batters later junior Keane Costa (Fairhaven, Mass.) singled home Williams with the Bears' first run of the game.

Bridgewater would add another run on an RBI single to right off the bat of junior Jose Polanco (Lawrence, Mass.) in the top of the seventh against reliever Brendan Busa (Framingham, Mass.) to reach the final margin of 7-2.

DiCato improves his season record to 3-1 with the victory as he went six innings allowing one earned run on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.  Senior Jim Balboni (Townsend, Mass.) picked up the loss for the Bears as he went the distance allowing seven runs, six earned, on ten hits.

Couillard, Forman and Iafolla all finished the game with a pair of hits for the Rams, while junior John Garabedian (Mansfield, Mass.) was the only Bear with multiple hits.

In game two, Bridgewater took the early lead with two runs in the top of the third inning.  Junior Sean Riley (Fairhaven, Mass.) led off the inning with a double to left and advanced to third when the Rams misplayed a sacrifice attempt by Polanco.  A David Pierce (East Bridgewater, Mass.) blooper to right scored Riley and Polanco came around to score on a sacrifice fly to center by Williams.

The Rams tied the score in the bottom of the fourth on a two run blast to left from sophomore Ivan Colon (Waltham, Mass.). The homerun, Colon's first of the season, plated Crofton who had legged out an infield single to open the inning.

Bridgewater State took the lead back in the top of the fifth off reliever Ryan Stoller (Milton, Mass.) on an RBI ground out by freshman Michael St. Clair (Berkley, Mass.) that scored Craig Stewart (Brockton, Mass.) who had doubled to left earlier in the inning.

Bridgewater State would add what proved to be the game winning run in the top of seventh inning.  Stewart singled with one out, advanced to second on a walk and then took third on a pitch in the dirt.  Stoller was able to strike the next batter out, but Garabedian lined a two out single up the middle to score Stewart from third putting the Bears up 4-2.

The Rams threatened in the bottom of the seventh when pinch hitter Chris Cole (Lynn, Mass.) worked a walk to lead off the inning.  Freshman Chris Tobin (Hudson, Mass.) pinch ran for Cole and was picked off in what proved to be a huge play as the next batter, Blydell, homered to left.  Senior Corey Batista (Fall River, Mass.) was able to retire the next two batters and secure the victory for the Bears.

Batista picked up his second win of the season on the hill going the distance allowing three runs, all earned, on seven hits with six strikeouts and three walks.  Freshman Ryan Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) started for the Rams and did not factor in the decision as he went four innings allowing two earned runs on seven hits.  Stoller picked up the loss for the Rams tossing three innings of relief and allowing two earned runs on four hits.

Pierce picked up three hits and an RBI in game two for the Bears, while Polanco and Stewart each added two.   Blydell led the Rams with a pair of hits including a homerun, while Colon finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.

The Rams return to action on Tuesday with a non-conference game against UMass Boston, while the Bears host UMass Dartmouth on Monday at 3:30 p.m.