By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (April 21-27) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
MONDAY
BASEBALL, at home, Mass. Maritime Academy, Noon and 2:30 PM: The Bears host the Buccaneers in a doubleheader at Alumni Park with first place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference on the line.
BSU, which plays six games this week and is 18-10, leads the MASCAC with a 9-3 record.
The Bears are just one-half game ahead of the Buccaneers (9-4), who are 18-13 overall.
BSU lost to Mass. Maritime last week, 5-4, ending a seven-game winning streak. The Bears stranded 15 runners in the loss.
SOFTBALL, at home, Mass. Maritime Academy, Noon and 2:00 PM: The Bears kick off a week that includes three doubleheaders by hosting the Buccaneers in a twinbill at Alumni Park.
BSU is 10-14, 3-5 in the MASCAC, while Mass. Maritime is 15-13 and 2-6 in the conference.
TUESDAY
SOFTBALL, at Curry College, 3:00 and 5:00 PM: The Bears visit Milton for a doubleheader with the Colonels.
The teams split a pair last season with BSU winning, 9-8, in eight innings and losing, 10-4.
Curry is 13-15, including 6-8 in the Conference of New England.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE, Mass. Maritime Academy, 7:00 PM: The Bears (11-4) wrap up the MASCAC schedule by hosting the Buccaneers at Mazzaferro Field.
BSU is 3-2 in the conference while the Buccaneers are 3-8 overall and 0-3 in the MASCAC.
This will be the Morgan's Message Dedication Game.
WEDNESDAY
MEN'S TENNIS, Salem State, 3:30 PM: BSU plays its final regular-season home game, hosting the Vikings.
The Bears are 5-4, including 3-1 in the Little East Conference, while Salem State is 2-4 and 1-4 in the Little East.
BSU scored a 9-0 win over the Vikings last season.
BASEBALL, at home, Wentworth, 3:30 PM: The Bears play their final non-conference game, hosting the Leopards.
BSU was an 11-5 winner over Wentworth last season.
The Leopards are 9-17 and 3-6 in the Conference of New England.
FRIDAY
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at home, MASCAC Championships, 10:00 AM: The Bears bid for a seventh straight conference title when they host the meet.
BSU began its streak in 2018 and except for 2020 when the meet was cancelled due to COVID, have won every year since.
The Bears were scheduled to host the indoor MASCAC Championships this winter, but it was cancelled due to weather concerns.
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at home, MASCAC Championships, 10:00 AM: After finishing second to Westfield State in 2024, the Bears are home looking to win the title.
BSU was the MASCAC champion in 2021, 2022 and and 2023 before Westfield State had 201 points to the Bears' 175 last season.
BSU had nine first-place finishers a year ago.
BASEBALL, at MCLA, 3:00 PM: The Bears travel to North Adams to open a three-game series with the Trailblazers.
BSU defeated the Mass. College of Liberal Arts three times a year ago.
The Trailblazers are 5-20 and 2-11 in the MASCAC.
SATURDAY
SOFTBALL, at home, MCLA, 12:30 and 2:30 PM: The Bears wrap up the week by hosting the Trailblazers.
The teams split a pair of games last season with BSU winning, 6-1, and losing, 4-0.
MCLA is tied for second in the MASCAC with a 5-3 record and is 12-12 overall.
BASEBALL, at home MCLA, Noon and 2:30 PM: The Bears will hold their Senior Day festivities as the Trailblazers visit Alumni Park.
BSU has just two regular-season home games remaining after facing MCLA.
MEN'S TENNIS, at UMass Boston, 1:00 PM: The Bears close out the regular season by facing the Beacons at the BC High Tennis Courts.
BSU defeated UMass Boston twice last season, 5-4, and then 5-0 in the Little East tournament.
The Bears have four straight wins over the Beacons, who are 5-5 and 3-1 in the conference.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE, at home, Keene State, 6:00 PM: The Bears wrap up the regular season with a non-conference matchup with the Owls.
It will be Senior Night at Mazzaferro Field.
The teams have not met since 2015 and BSU owns a 6-1 record against Keene State, which is 11-4 and 5-2 in the Little East.