Baseball team swept by Salem State

Steven M Miller Jr, Staff Writer

Please note that this article appears in this weeks edition of The Comment

After getting swept in a doubleheader on Tuesday by Salem State, the Bridgewater State College baseball team finishes its season with a disappointing 16-15 record on the season. The Bears lost the first game 7-0 and the second game 4-3.

“We just sucked today out there,” said head coach Rick Smith. “It was just really hard for us to (lose) the one game that we needed to, so that we could get into the MASCAC tournament.”

In the first game BSC fell behind early when the Vikings scored five runs in the first three innings. With a deficit to overcome the Bears tried to rally, but became frustrated when they could not score any runs off right-hander Al Miner. Miner would go on to pitch a complete game shutout giving up only four hits in seven innings of work.

Miner also retired 11 of the last 13 batters he faced and allowed Bridgewater State to leave as many as six men on base.

In the second game, the Bears fall behind early when Salem State plated 2 runs in the first inning. But BSC would rally for 3 runs in the top of the third inning and bounce the starting pitcher out of the game.

Senior second baseman Jay Lamoureux started the rally with a single through the left side of the infield and two more players would draw walks that would load the bases. Taking advantage of the situation, junior leftfielder Steve Smith and senior centerfielder Andrew Dillon would tie the score on back-to-back RBI singles.

Junior catcher Kelly LaDow would score the go-ahead run on an RBI ground out off of right-hander Steve Lynch, who would come in to relieve the starting pitcher.

After allowing the go-ahead run to cross the plate, Lynch was impressive as he pitched 4 2/3 perfect innings of relief. It was his performance that set the stage for a Salem State comeback in the sixth inning.

With the score 3-2, Salem State loaded the bases on two fielding miscues by the BSC infield. With no outs in the inning, junior Brian Schilling came into the game, and would allow the tying run to cross the plate with a lead-off walk. He then allowed the go-ahead run to score with a sacrifice fly to left field.

“Salem State’s pitching really surpassed ours today,” said Coach Smith. “They also made plays
when they needed to, and had some timely hitting throughout the game.”

After splitting with MCLA on Sunday, Bridgewater State was in a good position to get a good seed in the MASCAC Tournament. Had BSC had swept Salem, they would have clinched the second seed in the tournament and a home game in the first round. If they had split with Salem State, they would have taken the number three seed and played Fitchburg State on Thursday.

With a sweep, Salem State takes the number three seed in the MASCAC tournament and will be facing Fitchburg in the first round.

Coach Smith said that he really impressed by Salem State's baseball team.

“They were the best team that we faced all year,” said Coach Smith. “Even though they will enter the tournament as a three seed, they are my pick to win the whole thing.”

After the game, Coach Smith was speechless; he really didn’t know what to say to his 25 man squad. Once he started his speech, he stated the obvious and he reminded his players what they must do to prepare for next season.

"We are a young team, and if this loss isn’t motivation enough, then I really don’t know what is,” said Coach Smith. “I hope that you work out in the off-season and try to get better each day. If we build on this experience right here, then we will only be that much better next season.”

Since the MASCAC Tournament started in 2001, this marks the first time the Bridgewater State College baseball team has not made an appearance. The Bears finish the season with a 16-15 overall record and 7-7 in the MASCAC standings.

Photo 1 - BSC Catcher Kelly LaDow takes a hack at a pitch
Photo 2 - Freshman second baseman Nik Karangioze tries to cut the runner down on a grounder to second
Credits- bridgew.edu