SALEM, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University baseball team dropped a pair of games to host Salem State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader on Friday afternoon.
The Vikings improve to 11-5 (2-0 MASCAC) on the season, while the visiting Bears slip to 3-9 overall (0-2 MASCAC).
In the opener, Cato LaCroix hurled six solid innings for the host Vikings as he scattered five hits and gave up just one run. LaCroix (2-0) walked two, hit two batters and fanned five.
Matt Turmenne tossed a scoreless seventh inning to secure the win.
Salem took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Andrew Deloury singled with two outs, moved to second on walk and scored on Mike Davis' RBI single.
The Vikings tacked on two more runs in the fifth as Deloury started the rally with a one-out single. Kevin Carens followed with a base hit sending Deloury to third. Following a strikeout, Carens stole second and then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Richard Fecteau plated Carens with the second run of the inning on an RBI single.
The Bears cut the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the sixth when Keaghan Austin-MacInnis doubled, moved to third on a Scott O'Brien base hit and scored on a double play ground out.
A pair of sacrifice flies off the bats of George Tsonis and Teghan Malionek in the bottom of the sixth extended the Vikings' advantage to 5-1.
Deloury finished 2-for-2 with a hit by pitch and two runs scored to highlight the Salem State offense. Colton Fontaine also had two hits in two at bats and was hit by a pitch.
Jacob Souza went 2-for-4 at the plate to pace the Bears.
David Holmes suffered the loss on the mound as he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits over six innings. Holmes (0-2) walked one, fanned three and hit two batters.
In game two, Bridgewater State again threatened first when following a walk to Zack Ricciardi, Salem State's Davis made a nice running grab deep in the left field corner off the bat of Colin Ryan (Quincy, MA) and doubled off Ricciardi at first.
The Bears would, however, take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on the stength of a pair of RBI singles by Nick White and Austin-MacInnis.
Salem State answered in the bottom of the inning when Fecteau smashed a single that brought in two runs to tie the game for the Vikings.
Vikings' starter Sean Buckland pitched five and a third innings, giving up five hits and three runs before being lifted in the sixth after loading the bases.
Mike Richardson came on in the sixth in relief for Salem State, and issued a bases loaded walk to Colin Ryan to give the Bears a 3-2 lead. Singles by White and O'Brien and a walk to Ricciardi filled the bases in the frame.
Bears' starting pitcher Adam Mullen came out of the game in the sixth, having gone five and a third innings after allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Shane Surette came on relief with one out and the bases loaded. Surette retired both batters he faced in the frame but gave up the game-tying sacrifice fly by Deloury.
Turmenne came on and pitched a scoreless inning and two-thirds before being replaced by Tim Woods in the ninth.
After issuing a lead-off walk to Carens in the bottom of the ninth, Surette was replaced by Ryan Hayward. Following a walk to Davis, Fecteau lined a shot into center field for the game-winner.
White went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI to pace the BSU offense in game two. Fecteau had two hits in five at bats and drove in three runs to lead the Vikings.
Woods (2-2) picked up the win in relief as he retired the only two batters he faced in the ninth including a strikeout with the go-ahead run at third with just one out.
Surette (0-3) was the pitcher of record in the loss for the Bears as he allowed a run on two hits and walk in 2 2/3 innings of work.
Salem State will play its next game against UMass-Boston on Tuesday at 3:30 PM. Bridgewater State will play on Tuesday at home against Suffolk University beginning at 3:00 PM.