Baseball Sweeps RIC in Non-Conference Twinbill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Bridgewater State University baseball team swept a non-conference doubleheader with Rhode Island College on Saturday afternoon at Pontarelli Field. Bridgewater State took the opener by a score of 4-3 and completed the sweep with a 6-1 win in the nightcap.

Senior shortstop Ryan Feeney (East Bridgewater, MA) went 3-for-7 with two runs and two RBI in the sweep for Bridgewater State (5-6).

RIC (9-5) junior first baseman Frank Pettinato (Cranston, RI) went 2-for-6 in the two games while junior Brad Douglas (Wakefield, RI) went 2-for-4 with two runs in the twinbill for the Anchormen.

In the opener, Bridgewater State jumped out to the early lead with an RBI single from junior second baseman Matt Levasseur (Milton, MA). RIC answered in the bottom of the first when an RBI groundout from junior Shaun Vigeant (Coventry, RI) knotted the game at 1-1.

The Anchormen then took the 2-1 lead on an RBI single from Pettinato. The visiting Bears responded in the top of the third with an RBI single from Feeney. BSU then took the 3-2 advantage on a sacrifice fly from junior first baseman Reed Pike (Bellingham, MA).

Again, the Anchormen answered in the bottom of the frame and tied the game at 3-3 on Vigeant's second RBI groundout of the contest.

After a couple of scoreless innings, Bridgewater State capitalized on a pair of RIC miscues in the top of the seventh and took the 4-3 lead on a sacrifice fly from junior left fielder Alex Carey (East Bridgewater, MA).

RIC loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with two outs on a walk, a single and a hit by pitch. BSU sophomore closer Shawn Smeglin (Hollywood, FL) got out of the jam and secured the win as he induced a harmless fly out to center to end the game as Bridgewater held on for the 4-3 victory.

Junior Mike Nader (Hollywood, FL) picked up the win, his first in a BSU uniform, with one inning of scoreless relief for the Bears. Smeglin recorded his second save of the season.

Junior Myles Levy (Cranston, RI) suffered the loss in relief for RIC, allowing one unearned run in one inning of work.

Douglas went 2-for-2 with two runs in the setback for RIC while senior catcher Anthony Licciardello (Haverhill, MA) had a pair of hits in the win for Bridgewater State.

The nightcap saw Bridgewater State break the game open in the top of the third as they plated five runs, including an RBI double from Levasseur. Feeney also added an RBI single in the frame.

The Bears added a run in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from freshman designated hitter Zack Churchey (Wareham, MA) to make the score 6-1.

RIC got on the board in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI groundout from Vigeant. That would be all the scoring for the game, however, as Bridgewater State captured the 6-1 victory and a sweep of the doubleheader.

Five different BSU pitchers held the Anchormen to just four hits with senior starter Samuel Devine (Bourne, MA) picking up his third win of the season. Devine (3-0) gave up a hit and walk over two innings with three strikeouts.

Freshman Erry Baldayac (Providence, RI) suffered the loss for RIC, allowing six runs on four hits in five innings of work.

Feeney went 2-for-4 at the plate in game two with two runs scored, an RBI and a pair of stolen bases.

In upcoming action, RIC will host Worcester State in a non-conference contest at Pontarelli Field on Tuesday. The Bears entertain Suffolk University on Thursday afternoon at three.