BRIDGEWATER, Mass. --- Junior Chris
Burleson (Portland, ME-SS) smashed a grand-slam in the top
of the eighth inning to help lift the University of Southern Maine
to an 8-3 victory over host Bridgewater State College in
non-conference baseball action this afternoon at Alumni Field.
Winners of seven staight games, the Huskies improve to 11-4 with
the win while the Bears fall to 9-4 with the loss.
Burleson paced USM going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four
RBI’s while sophomore Josh Mackey (Danvers,
MA-2B) went 2-for-5 with one run batted in.
For BSC, senior Steve Smith (East Taunton, MA-LF)
went 2-for-4 while crossing the plate and plating a run once.
Junior Brad Koneski (N. Dighton, MA-CF) went
2-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored.
With a single in the sixth and a double in the eighth, Smith has
now broken the record for the most total bases his career at
Bridgewater State. Smith eclipsed Ed
Grueter’s (1988-91) mark of 291 total bases with
293.
Sophomore southpaw Mark Schmidt (Gorham, ME) went
the first five innings with a no hitter for USM, retiring 14 of the
first 17 batters he faced. Schmidt (3-0) went 6 1/3 innings giving
up three runs (one earned) on four hits while allowing one walk. He
also struck out six batters.
Sophomore Spencer Hatstat (Clinton, MA) started
the game for BSC giving up four runs on three hits to go along with
four walks and two strikeouts. With the loss, Hatstat’s now
record now stands at 2-1 on the season.
The Huskies jumped on the board scoring three runs in the first
inning. After Hatstat walked the first two batters, senior
Eddie Skeffington (Everett, MA-CF) plated Burleson
for USM’s first run. Another walk loaded the bases, sophomore
Collin Henry (Penobscot, ME-1B) and Skeffington
scored on back-to-back fielder’s choice plays.
USM added another run on a sacrifice fly by Anthony
D’Alfonso (Westbrook, ME-DH) in the top of the fifth
inning.
Koneski broke the no-hitter in the sixth on a double to leftfield.
After junior Kenny Downey (Braintree, MA-2B)
reached on an error, Smith drove in Koneski from second and both
runners on-base would advance on a miscue in the outfield. BSC
would score their second run when junior Kelly
LaDow (East Falmouth, MA-C) would reach first on an error
by the shortstop scoring Downey from third. Freshman Jeff
Poupolo (Brockton, MA-RF) added the Bears third run
plating Smith with a sacrifice fly.
Trailing 4-3, the Bears threatened to take the lead with runners
on second and third with one-out in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore right-hander Andrew deBethune (St.
Albans, ME) then came into the game to relive Schmidt and retire
the side on two strait groundouts.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth,
Burleson would break the game open with the grand-slam for his
third home-run of the season.
Both teams will play conference double-headers on either Saturday
or Sunday, depending on the weather at noon. The Bears will host
Salem State while the Huskies travel to Providence, RI to take on
Rhode Island College. In game one, Senior Martin
Anderson (Meriden, CT) will takes the mound for BSC while
freshman Greg Potts (Milton, MA) will get the nod
in game two.
Release written by Steven M. Miller, Jr --- Sports Information Correspondent