SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine -- Senior Anthony D'Alfonso (Westbrook, ME) drove in four runs with a grand slam home run as the University of Southern Maine defeated Bridgewater State College, 7-6, in a non-conference game Thursday afternoon at the Wainwright Athletic Complex.
The win snapped a two-game losing skid for the nationally-ranked Huskies, and lifts their overall record to 13-3. The Bears had their three-game winning streak stopped and slip to 10-9.
D'Alfonso hit his grand slam during the Huskies five-run uprising in the third inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases before D'Alfonso blasted an offering from BSC sophomore right-hander Jeff Puopolo (Brockton, MA) over the center field fence. The Huskies got their fifth run on an RBI single by sophomore Jordan Berthiaume (Berlin, CT).
Despite being out hit 11-4 in the game, the Bears kept things interesting. Senior Brendan Elliot (Brockton, MA) smashed a three-run homer off USM freshman starter Brennan Perry (Hampden, ME) in the fourth to close the gap to 5-3.
USM picked up a pair of runs in the sixth on a two-run single by junior Josh Mackey (Danvers, MA).
The Bears got two back in the seventh on an RBI single by senior J.T. Mooney (North Attleboro, MA) and an RBI fielder's choice from senior Kelly LaDow (East Falmouth, MA). Elliot launched his second round tripper of the game, a solo shot, in the eighth to pull the Bears within one. That would be the last hit for the Bears as USM sophomore reliever Nick Hahn (Guilford, CT) struck out five of the next six batters he faced to earn his first save.
D'Alfonso, Mackey, Berthiaume and senior Ryan Pike (Saco, ME) each had two hits for USM. Elliot was the lone repeat hitter for Bridgewater State.
Freshman pitcher Matt Melia (East Sandwich, MA) picked up his second win of the season against no losses with 3.0 innings of relief work before giving way to Hahn who went the final 2.2 innings. Puopolo, who pitched into the seventh, was saddled with the loss.
Southern Maine will host Little East Conference foe Plymouth State University on Friday (12:30 p.m.) at the Wainwright Athletic Complex. Bridgewater State hosts MASCAC rival Framingham State College for a doubleheader on Saturday (12:00 p.m.).