Baseball Splits MASCAC Doubleheader with Fitchburg

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - The Bridgewater State College Bears split a doubleheader with visiting Fitchburg State College in MASCAC baseball action this afternoon at Alumni Park in Bridgewater.  The Falcons edged the Bears 7-5 in game one before BSC rebounded with a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.

Kris Breen (Griswold, CT) turned in a stellar performance for Fitchburg State in game-one, going 3-for-4 with a homerun and a game-high four RBI. Andy Sauer (Willington, CT) finished with a triple, a run scored and two RBI, while Matt Morrison (Beverly, MA) connected for an RBI double.

Matt Greenberg (Norwell, MA) was strong for Bridgewater State in game one, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI, while Brendon Elliot (Brockton, MA) added two hits, a stolen base and one RBI. Mark Claffey (Bellingham, MA) chipped in with a base hit and two runs scored.

Fitchburg State opened the contest with a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Breen belted his team-leading sixth homerun of the season.

Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the third, Bridgewater State rallied to tie the score at 4-4.  With two outs, Brad Koneski (North Dighton, MA) singled and moved to third when Claffey reached on an error. After a Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA) walk loaded the bases, Greenberg knocked in two runs with a line drive base hit. Elliot then tied the game up with a run scoring single.

The Falcons responded with three runs in the next half inning to take the lead for good. Sauer led the Falcon charge with a two-run triple, while Breen belted an RBI single for his fourth RBI of the day.

Michal Mercier (Townsend, MA) tossed a complete game, seven-hitter for the Falcons.  Mercier (2-2) yielding five runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Sean O'Neill (Norwood, MA) suffered the loss for the Bears allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits in five innings of work.  O'Neill (3-3) also walked one and struck out three.

In game two, Bridgewater rallied from a 2-1 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to earn the split.

LaDow led the Bridgewater State charge with a 2-for-3 day, including a double, a run scored and an RBI.  Elliot finished 1-for-3 in game two with a triple, a run and an RBI.

John Phelan (Walpole, MA) led the Falcons offensively, hitting 2-for-4 with one run scored, while senior Aaron Granahan (Thomaston, CT) collected two hits and one run.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Claffey singled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a double by LaDow.  After an RBI ground out by Greenberg tied the game, Elliot put the Bears out in front with an RBI triple.  J.T. Mooney (North Attleboro, MA) followed with a sacrifice fly to give BSC a 4-2 lead.

Fitchburg State threatened in the top of the seventh inning with one run and three base-runners, but Bridgewater State sophomore pitcher Billy Blaisdell (Chelmsford, MA) came on to save the victory for the Bears.  With two out and runners at the corners, Blaisdell induced a fly out to right field to end the game.

Tim Bonham (Marshfield, MA) worked the first six innings for the Bears to pick up the win.  Bonham (3-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.  Sauer (2-3) suffered the loss on the mound for the Falcons as he gave up four runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings of work.

Bridgewater State (17-12, 8-2 MASCAC) will travel to MCLA on Monday at 1 PM for a key MASCAC doubleheader with the Trailblazers. Fitchburg State (15-13, 3-7 MASCAC) returns to action on Monday as it hosts conference rival Mass. Maritime at noon.