Batista Leads Baseball to 1-0 MASCAC Tournament Win over Salem

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior right-hander Corey Batista (Fall River, Mass.) hurled a four-hit shutout to lead top-seeded Bridgewater State to a 1-0 victory over number four Salem State in the opening round of the 2012 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Baseball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Park.

Bridgewater (28-13) advances to the winner's bracket final on Saturday as the Bears, who host the remainder of the tournament, take on third-seeded Framingham State at one.  Salem (29-11-1) will face number two seed Westfield State in an elimination game on Saturday morning at ten.  Framingham posted a 5-0 decision over Westfield in the other first round matchup.

Batista (7-3) was outstanding throughout as he allowed just three runners to reach second base and retired the final 15 batters of the game.  Batista, who threw 98 pitches, did not walk anyone, fanned five and induced 16 ground outs to post his school record-tying sixth career shutout and ninth complete game of the season.

Bridgewater scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning as junior Sean Riley (Fairhaven, Mass.) led off the frame with an opposite field double to left and moved to third on a fly out.  Salem senior right-hander Matt Kerr (East Freetown, Mass.) replaced freshman starter Mike Owens (Cambridge, Mass.) just two batters into the game and gave up a sacrifice fly to junior David Pierce (East Bridgwater, Mass.) which brought home Riley from third.

Kerr would pitch the rest of the game for the Vikings as he worked 7 2/3 innings scattering five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.  Owens (0-1) took the loss for Salem as he faced just two batters.

Riley and senior Ian Williams (Taunton, Mass.) paced the Bears' offense with two hits apiece.  Riley's double was his 25th of the season as he entered the week tied for the Division III lead in two-baggers.

Senior Chris Cocci (Wakefield, R.I.) singled twice in four at bats to lead the Vikings.

Notes: Batista tied Scott Favreau's career shutout mark of six which was set in 2006...The complete game was Batista's 18th of his career as he continues to add on to his BSU record…Batista also tied his own singles-season mark of nine complete games set a year ago...Riley's 25 doubles, 38 extra base hits and 118 total bases this year are all single-season school records.