Baseball Downs Framingham, 15-10, to Sweep Three-Game Set

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University baseball team posted a 15-10 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Framingham State University on Sunday at Bowditch Field.

The Bears, who swept the three-game set against the Rams, improve to 14-6 on the season and 6-0 in the MASCAC. Framingham falls to 5-14 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

Bridgewater finished with 14 hits in the contest. The Bears also stole eight more bases to increase their season total to 67 in 20 games.

Freshman second baseman Scott Emerson (Peabody, Mass.) went 3-for-6 with two stolen bases, two runs and two RBI to pace the 14-hit attack, while junior third baseman Joey Molis (Cumberland, R.I.) doubled twice, walked, and scored three runs in five plate appearances. Emerson now has a team-leading 18 steals on the season.

Sophomore right fielder Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) and junior first baseman Dan Saraceno (Mansfield, Mass.) also finished with multiple hits for the Bears. Wladkowski went 2-for-6 with a career-high four stolen bases, three runs and three RBI. Saraceno was 2-for-6 at the plate with a run batted in.

After falling behind 2-0 early, the Bears sent 13 batters to the plate in a game-changing nine-run second inning. Bridgewater capitalized on three FSU errors in the frame as four of the nine runs were unearned. Emerson and Wladkowski each connected for two-run singles in the inning while sophomore left fielder Joe Frechette (Plymouth, Mass.) added an RBI single and sophomore centerfielder Shane Foley (East Bridgewater, Mass.) knocked in a run with a squeeze bunt.

The Bears scored a run in each of the next five innings to increase their total to 14. Wladkowski and sophomore designated hitter Kyle Suraci (Clinton, Conn.) rapped RBI singles in the third and fourth innings, respectively, while Emerson singled, stole both second and third, and raced home on a throwing error in the fifth. Sophomore shortstop Kevin Lindsay (East Bridgewater, Mass.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Wladkowski reached on an error to lead off the seventh, stole second and third, and scurried home on another FSU throwing miscue.

Framingham used a five-run fifth inning to stay in contention. The Rams notched six hits in the frame highlighted by a two-run single by sophomore first baseman Ethan Moniz (Dartmouth, Mass.), a Cam Gilroy (Salisbury, Mass.) RBI double and a two-run double by senior catcher Kevin Girardin (Littleton, Mass.). The five-run inning closed the gap to 12-9 at the time, but Framingham would get no closer the rest of the way.

An RBI base hit by Saraceno in the top of the ninth capped off the scoring for the Bears.

Freshman lefthander Shane Handrahan (Raynham, Mass.) pitched well in four innings of relief for the Bears as he was credited with the win. Handrahan (2-0) gave up just one run on three hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts to close out the game.

Sophomore left fielder Ryan Boyle (Arlington, Mass.) went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored to pace the Framingham offense.

The Bears are back in action on Tuesday when they entertain Suffolk University at 3:30.