Pennini Tosses No-Hitter to Lead Baseball to MASCAC sweep of MCLA

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Kenny Pennini (Millis, Mass.) tossed a no-hitter to lead the Bridgewater State University baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of visiting MCLA in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Monday afternoon at Alumni Park.

The Bears (20-12, 7-1 MASCAC) blanked the Trailblazers (11-17, 2-6 MASCAC) 5-0 in the opener and completed the sweep with a 16-7 victory in game two.  Bridgewater has won five straight games and 11 of its last 12.

Pennini (3-2) allowed just three walks and hit a batter, while striking out a career-high 12 as he stymied the Trailblazers from start to finish.  He struck out the side in the sixth and retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced.

The Bears plated four runs in the bottom of the second inning on the strength of a bases loaded walk by John Garabedian (Mansfield, Mass.) and a two-run single off the bat of Sean Riley (Fairhaven, Mass.).  Garabedian would score the fourth run of the frame on a wild pitch.

Craig Stewart (Brockton, Mass.) capped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Cody Weaver (Highland, N.Y.) was saddled with the loss for MCLA in the complete game effort.  Weaver (0-4) allowed five runs on three hits and five walks in six innings of work.  He also struck out two. 

In game two, Bridgewater broke the game wide open with an eight-run third inning. 

Andy Sadoski (Harwich, Mass.) got the win on the mound for the Bears.  Sadoski, who was pitching on just three days rest, allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts.  He left the game after five innings of work with Bridgewater leading, 15-3.

Five players had two hits apiece to highlight the Bears' 15-hit attack led by David Pierce (East Bridgewater, Mass.) who went 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and five RBI.  Pierce connected for a three-run double in the big third inning and added a two-run triple in the fourth.

Riley chipped in with a double, a walk and an RBI triple in four plate appearance.  Tory Buck (Shelburne Falls, Mass.) finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a walk, two stolen bases, three runs scored and a pair of RBI.  Garabedian added a pair singles and a walk in four trips to plate as he scored three runs and drove in one, while Keane Costa (Fairhaven, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Stewart belted his fourth home run of the season for the Bears, a two-run blast during a five-run second inning.

Chase Preite (North Adams, Mass.) paced the Trailblazer offense in game two as he went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI.  He also threw one inning of scoreless relief with a strikeout.

Joe Vaverka (Malden, Mass.) took the loss on the mound for MCLA as he worked the first two innings.  Vaverka (0-2) gave up five runs on five hits and a pair of walks.  The Trailblazer bullpen was tagged for 11 runs on ten hits, three walks and two hit batsmen.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater travels to UMass Dartmouth on Thursday afternoon for a 3:30 game with the Corsairs. MCLA hosts Skidmore College on Thursday at four.

Notes: With his triple and double in game two, Riley eclipsed Jeff Cloonan's singles-season mark of 28 extra base hits set in 1999.  Riley now has 29 extra base hits on the season (20 doubles, four triples, five home runs).