BEVERLY, Mass. - Bridgewater State College scored four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, downing Endicott, 12-2, in a non-conference baseball game on North Field in Beverly, Massachusetts on Tuesday afternoon. The win marks BSC's 17th of the season, improving the Bears to 17-12 (7-5 MASCAC), while Endicott drops its ninth game in its last 11 outings, slipping to 16-15 (10-8 TCCC).
Endicott starter Roberto Zapata (Boston, MA) struggled to find the strike zone early on, walking the bases loaded in the top of the first. The Bears made their patience at the plate pay off, as Bridewater's Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA) stroked a two RBI double to right to give the visitors a quick two run advantage. Bridgewater State would go on to score two more before Brad Koneski (North Dighton, MA) popped-up to end the inning.
The Bears extended their lead to six runs as the visitors scored twice in the top of the third. Koneski singled through the left side to score Dana Hansen (Hanover, MA), and J.T. Mooney (North Attleboro, MA) scored on an Endicott throwing error.
The Bears continued their solid hitting in the fifth as they scored three runs to go ahead 9-1. BSC continued the onslaught in the eighth and ninth, scoring three more times before all was said and down to take the 12-2 win.
The Bears got a pair of two RBI efforts from LaDow and Mooney, who combined for four of the team's nine hits. Senior Steve Smith (East Taunton, MA) also added a hit and an RBI while scoring three times in the win. Smith is now just one hit away from tying the Bridgewater State record for hits in a career, a mark held by Ed Grueter since 1991 (215 hits).
BSC starter Jeff Sarahs (Whitman, MA) went the distance allowing seven hits and two runs in nine innings. Sarahs downed nine Endicott batters by way of the K, walking just two on the afternoon.
Endicott was led by Christopher Carillo's (Bethel, CT) two hits and one run driven in. Brian Andersen (Grafton, MA) also had two hits while Aaron Santos (Cambridge, MA) accounted for the second RBI in the losing effort.
Endicott steps back into TCCC play on Wednesday as the Gulls travel to cross-town rival Gordon College for a double-header. Bridgewater State will square-off with UMass-Dartmouth on Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
Release courtesy of Endicott College