SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior Bryant Warner (Harwich, MA) pitched a complete game and senior left fielder Ian Williams (Taunton, MA) belted a three-run homer to lead the Bridgewater State baseball team to a 6-4 victory over Western New England Friday afternoon (Apr. 27) at Trelease Park.
This was the 10th straight win for the Bears who improved their record to 26-12. The Golden Bears now have a 26-10 mark after having their 10-game win streak come to an end.
Warner raised his record to 4-1 by allowing eight hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Bridgewater State scored four times in the third on a RBI double by junior designated hitter David Pierce (East Bridgewater, MA) and Williams' first homer of the season.
Western New England came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring single by junior third baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) and a fielder's choice ground out by junior second baseman Tim Clark (West Springfield, MA).
The Golden Bears cut the deficit to 4-3 with a run in the fifth when sophomore center fielder Jeff Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) tripled with one out and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior right fielder Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT).
BSU took a 6-3 advantage in the sixth as junior right fielder Troy Buck (Shelburne Falls, MA) knocked in a run with a single and junior center fielder John Garabedian (Mansfield, MA) had a RBI fielder's choice ground out.
Western New England made it a 6-4 game in the seventh when Rubino hit a sacrifice fly, but Warner retired the side with runners on first and third to end the threat.
Pierce had a nice performance with three of the Bears' 12 hits and a stolen base while Williams and junior second baseman Jose Polanco (Lawrence, MA) each finished with two hits.
Schult had a strong showing with three hits and three runs scored. Rubino contributed a pair of hits and RBI. Clark also had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 24 games.
Junior Mike Lospinuso (West Islip, NY) went six-and-a-third innings giving up 11 hits with no walks and a strikeout. He is now 4-2. Senior Mike Lawlor (Windsor, CT) got the final eight outs striking out three and permitting only one hit.
Despite the windy and chilly conditions, the game had the feel of a post-season contest as both teams battled one another last year in the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship with the Golden Bears winning twice.
Western New England honored Lawlor, pitchers Mark DiTommaso (Hebron, CT), Rob Neagle (Branford, CT) and Matt Sieminski (Madison, CT), catcher Tyler Issadore (Hingham, MA), and designated hitter Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) before the game during Senior Day activities.