COCOA, Fla. -- Senior outfielder J.T. Mooney (North Attleboro, MA) drove in the game-winning run with a walk off base hit in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Bridgewater State College baseball team opened the 2008 season with an 8-7 victory over St. Mary's College on Saturday morning at the Cocoa Expo Sports center in Cocoa, Florida.
Mooney, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth, finished 2-for-2 on the day with a pair of RBI and a run scored.
The Bears managed just six hits through the first seven innings of play and trailed 7-2 before scoring three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings.
With two outs and runners on first and second in the eighth, Mooney drove in junior catcher Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA) from second with an RBI single. Freshman Ian Williams (Taunton, MA) followed with his first career hit; a pinch hit triple which plated both Mooney and LaDow.
Down 7-5 in the ninth with two on and one out, senior leftfielder Steve Smith (East Taunton, MA) doubled to drive in junior center fielder Brad Koneski (Dighton, MA) from second to make the score 7-6. After an intentional walk to LaDow loaded the bases, the Bears tied the game when freshman Matt Poupolo (Brockton, MA) was hit by a pitch. That set the stage for Mooney's walk-off base-hit through the left side of the infield.
Senior closer Brian Schilling (Weymouth, MA) picked up the win in relief for the Bears. St. Mary's freshman Barrett Enix (Suffolk, VA) was tagged for the loss as he dropped to 0-3 on the season.
BSC senior right-hander Martin Anderson (Meriden, CT) started the game for Bridgewater State. Anderson went 6 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. The Seahawks scored their two runs off Anderson on solo home runs by senior catcher Mike Broccolino (Millersville, MD) and freshman shortstop Matt Baden (Sunderland, MD).
The game was tied 2-2 before Anderson turned the game over to the bullpen after six strong innings of work. St. Mary's, however, erupted for five runs over the next two innings off of three BSC relievers.
John Gill (Owings Mills, MD) started for the Seahawks going 7 2/3 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2.
For the Bears, Koneski and sophomore third baseman Mark Claffey (Bellingham, MA) each went 2-for-5 with a run, while LaDow was 1-for-4 with two runs scored.
Seven Seahawks had at least one hit apiece for St. Mary's led by centerfielder Jacen Killebrew (La Plata, MD) and freshman shortstop Matt Baden (Sunderland, ME). Killebrew went 2-for-4 with a run scored while Baden finished 2-for-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
Bridgewater State College will continue its spring training trip when they play Mount St. Mary College at the Cocoa Stadium tomorrow at 4 o'clock. Junior right-hander Dave Liffers (5-1 record last year with 4.23 ERA in 38.1 IP)
Story by Steven M. Miller, Jr --- Sports Information Correspondent.