SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Western New England University edged visiting Bridgewater State University, 5-3, in non-conference baseball action on Friday afternoon at Pat Ricci Field.

The Golden Bears (14-18-1), who banged out 12 hits in the game, won despite stranding 11 runners on base.  The visiting Bears slip to 11-20 on the season with the loss.

Sophomore David Cherry earned his first career win on the mound for the hosts, while freshman Matt Thomas recorded his first collegiate save. Cherry (1-3) gave up three runs (two earned) on six singles and walked just one in eight innings of work. He also tied his career high in strikeouts with seven.  Thomas entered the game with one out and two runners on base in the ninth, and retired both batters he faced on a pop-out and ground out to end the game.

Sophomore Doug Milne led the WNE offense by going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Seniors Steve Ambrosino and Jeff Schult also had two hits, while sophomore T.J. Wyrebek also went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and he reached base two other times when he was hit by a pitch.

Sophomore Jacob Souza (Acushnet, Mass.) paced the Bridgewater State offense with a 3-for-4 performance.  Souza rapped RBI singles in both the third and fifth innings.  Junior Nicholas White (Bellingham, Mass.) added two hits for the Bears.  The rest of the BSU lineup, however, went just 1-for-23 at the plate.

Senior Kenny Pennini (Millis, Mass.) allowed four runs on seven hits in the setback.  Pennini (1-4) worked the first four innings and fanned one.  Junior Chris Pessotti (Burlington, Mass.) pitched effectively in four innings of relief giving up just one run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.

The Bears will return to the diamond on Sunday afternoon when they travel to MCLA for a one o'clock MASCAC doubleheader with the Trailblazers.