Baseball Swept by Framingham in MASCAC Twinbill

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- The Framingham State University baseball team clinched a spot in next week's MASCAC Tournament with a doubleheader sweep of Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Bowditch Field.

Framingham won the first game, 6-1, and completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap

With the two wins, the Rams are now 16-20 on the year and 6-8 in the MASCAC. Framingham is seeded sixth in the conference tournament and will take on third-seeded Fitchburg State University on Thursday afternoon at three.

The Bears finished the season with an overall record of 10-21 with a 3-11 mark in the MASCAC.

The Rams received a pair of solid pitching performances from sophomores Kevin Connelly (Bolton, Mass.) and Kyle Hodgson (Berkley, Mass.). 

In the opener the Rams plated six runs in the bottom of the sixth to come from behind and secure the victory. Sophomore Kyle Lippert (Carlsbad, Calif.) led off the inning with a double and senior Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) followed with a single.  Senior Ryan Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.) followed with a single to right tying the game. The Rams proceeded to load the bases and sophomore Jordan Pallazola (Rockport, Mass.) delivered the go ahead run with a sacrifice fly. The Rams reloaded the bases and Kyle Pileski (Bristol, Conn.) delivered a grand slam to center putting the Rams up 6-1.

Kevin Connelly retired the Bears in the top of the seventh to earn the win on the mound.  Connelly went the distance allowing just one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning that stood until the bottom of the sixth.  Back-to-back singles from juniors Billy Mitchell (Walpole, Mass.) and Tyler Morini (Plymouth, Mass.) gave the Bears runners on second and third and an intentional walk loaded the bases. Junior Alex Carey (East Bridgewater, Mass.) drove in the Bears' lone run with a sacrifice fly to deep center as Connelly was able to record a pop out to end the inning.

Junior Connor Birch (Bellingham, Mass.) took the loss for the Bears going five plus innings and allowing four earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Junior Mike Nader (Hollywood, Fla.) tossed an inning of relief and allowed two earned runs on one hit.

Hodgson went the distance in game two allowing one earned run on six hits with four strikeouts.

The Rams got on the board first in game two on an RBI single by Pileski in the bottom of the first inning.

Sophomore Aaron Williams (Brockton, Mass.) reached in the bottom of the second on a bunt single and moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Williams stole third and came in to score on an RBI single by Lippert extending the lead to 2-0.

The Bears cut the deficit in half in the top of the third. Sophomore Dominic Precopio (Framingham, Mass.) doubled and came around to score on a single by Morini.

The Rams tacked on a final run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Matt Brockett (Guilford, Conn.) to reach the final margin.

Senior Thomas Protentis (Lakeville, Mass.) took the loss for the Bears going two innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with two walks.