In college baseball action today, the Bridgewater State baseball team split the opening MASCAC league double header with rival Worcester State. Worcester State took the first game 2-1 (in 9 innings) and Bridgewater took the second game 9-5.
"I think that its great that we are tied with Worcester State in the league right now," said head coach Rick Smith. "Its always good when you remain tied with the team that your most likely to see in the tournament at the end of the year."
The first game was a battle in extra innings by both starting pitchers. Bridgewater State senior right-hander Jordan Richards went the distance pitching 9 innings, giving up only 2 runs (1 earned) on 7 hits. He had 5 strikeouts, 6 walks, and 13 outs by way of ground ball. Worcester State senior Steve DiRoboberto went 8 innings, giving up 1 run (none earned) on 6 hits. He had 6 strikeouts, 3 walks, and a wild pitch.
Worcester State opened with a 1-0 lead in the 4th inning. Junior first baseman Nate Nelson singled to right field, junior outfielder Chris Gusha followed that up with a base hit. Nelson moved to third on a very well executed hit and run. Senior DH Kirk Monbleau followed that up with a walk and junior catcher Mark Logan drove him in, reaching first on a fielders choice.
Bridgewater tied the game up in the bottom of the 5th inning. Senior shortstop Jay Lamoureux reached base after an error by the third baseman. He then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore right fielder Brad Koneski moved him over to third on a base hit to left field. In the middle of freshman third baseman Mark Claffey's at-bat, Lamoureux scored on a wild pitch.
The score remained tied until the top of the ninth inning. Logan led off the inning base hit that shortstop Lamoureux just could not get to. After he was bunted over to first, Bridgewater State made the decision to intentionally walk freshman shortstop . After second baseman Tom LaPrude flied out, Tom Huddleston reached first on a ground ball that should have been caught by freshman second baseman Nik Karangioze. With the bases now loaded sophomore left fielder Billy Manley hit a bouncing ground ball that Lamoureux misplayed and Worcester State scored the go ahead run.
Junior closer Travis Minor closed the door and picked up his second save of the year, facing four Bridgewater State batters in the bottom frame of the ninth.
Bridgewater State had a frustrating day at the plate stranding as many as 5 batters that could have tied or gotten the go-ahead run. Junior catcher Kelly LaDow was the lone standout for the Bears, who reached base all four times he was up in the game. He was 3-for-3, with a walk.
In the second game, Worcester State opened the game with a 1-0 lead. But in the bottom frame of the first inning, the Bears wasted no time with the bats hitting senior right-hander Eric Grabowski for 6 runs (1 earned) over the three innings that he worked in.
After Claffey grounded into a double play, junior left fielder Steve Smith worked a two out walk. Senior center fielder Andrew Dillon then reached base after Grabowski dropped a pop-up on the third base line. The Bears took advantage of the miscue and LaDow doubled in Smith from second and Dillon from first base. Senior DH Dana Hansen then doubled in Ladow, and sophomore Dave Kiloski doubled in Hansen. The Bears ended the first inning with a 4-1 lead.
Bridgewater added to its lead scoring two more in the third inning.
Worcester State tried to make the score close by rallying in the 6th inning. After a base hit to right center, Manley hit a two-run home run to make the score a 6-3 ball game. Sophomore Dave Liffers then walked Nelson and got the next two outs. But Logan got Liffers for a base hit and advanced to second on a misplayed ball in the outfield. With runners on second and third, junior third baseman Atchue got a base hit up the middle, that scored Nelson.
Junior Brian Schilling came into the game and allowed a double that scored Nelson. He then ended the inning on a fly to center field.
With the score 6-5, the Bears then rallied in the 6th inning for three runs. LaDow came up huge for the Bears, knocking in two big insurance runs.
In the top of the seventh, Schilling ended the game stranding the bases loaded and picking up his first save of the season.
Bridgewater right-hander Dave Liffers picked up his third win of the year. He went 5 2/3 innings, giving up 5 earned runs on 8 hits. He struck out 1, walked 2 batters, and picked up 11 outs by way of the ground ball.
The Bears were led by an outstanding offensive performance by LaDow. He was 7-for-7 on afternoon, and had six RBI's in the second game's 9-6 victory.
"I have been hitting the ball really well all along, during the season," said LaDow. "It was nice to see a couple of hits fall and it was nice to get a couple of RBI's."
We have more post game coverage in the next post.
Photo- Sophomore Dave Kiloski fields a ground ball
Credit- bridgew.edu
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