BROCKTON, Mass. - Sophomore third baseman Mark Claffey (Bellingham, MA) drove in five runs, and the Bridgewater State College baseball team banged out 22 hits, as the Bears rolled to a 16-9 victory over Curry College this afternoon at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton.
With the win BSC improves to 19-12 on the season. Curry falls to 25-8-1 with the loss.
After spotting Curry leads of 3-0 and 5-3, the Bears erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take control of the game. The inning was highlighted by a pair of bases loaded, bases clearing doubles by Claffey and junior first baseman David Kiloski (Lowell, MA).
Bridgewater upped the lead to 12-5 as they added two more runs in the sixth on an RBI groundout by freshman right fielder Steve Lambert (Milton, MA) and a bases loaded walk to senior designated hitter Dana Hansen (Hanover, MA).
Curry fought back with three runs in the top of the seventh highlighted by a two-run single by sophomore first baseman P.J. McGuinness (Dedham, MA). BSC, however, answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to go up 15-8. Claffey singled in a run and senior left fielder Steve Smith (East Taunton, MA) followed with a two-run double two batters later. Each team would plate a run in the eighth to round out the scoring.
Claffey went 3-for-5 at the plate with a walk and a run scored to go along with his five RBI. Smith and junior catcher Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA) each finished 4-for-6. Junior second baseman Brad Koneski reached safely five times in six plate appearances as he went 4-for-5 with a walk, an RBI and four runs scored.
Kiloski walked three times to go along with his three-run double as he finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Sophomore right-hander Ben Altman (East Taunton, MA) picked up the win in relief for the Bears as he went 2 2/3 giving up three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Chris Horgan (Plymouth, MA) went the final 2 2/3 innings allowing just one run on three hits. Horgan did not walk a batter and struck out three.
Sophomore left-hander Ben Howrigan (Fairfield, VT) was tagged with the loss for the Colonels as he entered the game to start the second inning in place of injured starter Matt Buonaiuto (Warwick, RI). Buonaiuto allowed two hits and struck out two batters in a scoreless first inning but was unable to continue. Howrigan went three plus innings and was charged with eight run (seven earned) on five hits and five walks.
McGuinness (1-for-2) finished with four runs batted in for the Colonels as he also executed a perfect suicide squeeze and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Sophomore center fielder Jesse Bruinsma (Lynnfield, MA) paced the Colonels' 12-hit attack as he went 2-for-3 with two walks and a pair of runs scored. Sophomore right-fielder Tim Sweeney (Walpole, MA) also finished 2-for-3with a walk and three runs scored. Senior left fielder David Vincent (Grafton, MA) tripled and doubled in five at bats as he scored a run and drove in two.
Bridgewater State hosts a MASCAC twinbill with MCLA tomorrow afternoon starting at 1.