Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score
Bridgewater, Mass. -- On the last weekend of
MASCAC play, Bridgewater State earned a hard-fought split with
Worcester State as the Bears posted a 10-4 victory in the first
game while the Lancers wrapped things up with a 6-2 win in the
nightcap.
BSC's game one victory clinched the second need for next week's
MASCAC Tournament as the Bears edged out MCLA by a game in the
conference standings. Bridgewater (21-14) completed the MASCAC
schedule with a 10-4 conference record, while MCLA finished up 9-5
in MASCAC play. The Trailblazers swept Salem State earlier this
afternoon.
WSC captured their fifth regular season MASCAC regular season
title this past Monday with a sweep of Framingham State to earn the
top-seed in the tournament. The Lancers (25-11) end the
regular season with their best ever mark in conference play at
13-1.
Both teams will enjoy first round home games in the conference
tournament which starts on Thursday. Worcester State will entertain
#4 Westfield State at 4 PM at Holy Cross, while Bridgewater State
hosts the third-seeded Trailblazers at 3.
With the Lancers ahead 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning
in the first contest, the Bears took advantage of three Blue and
Gold miscues to take the lead and break the game open by the end of
the frame.
Senior Brad Koneski (N. Dighton, MA-2B) led off
the sixth with a double and then after junior Mark Claffey
(Bellingham, MA-3B) reached on a misplayed bunt by the pitcher,
senior Kelly LaDow (E. Falmouth, MA-C) drove in
Koneski to knot the score as his at-bat produced an error in the
infield. Junior Matt Greenburg (Norwell, MA-DH)
notched a sacrifice fly to give the Bears the 4-3 lead.
The rest of the scoring in the inning was highlighted by a two-run
double by senior J.T. Mooney (N. Attleboro, MA-CF)
and two more runs came around to score on a ball that was thrown
away by the pitcher on the mound.
Bridgewater State opened the games scoring in the bottom of the
second as Koneski and Claffey each strung together back-to-back RBI
singles as the Bears took a 2-0 advantage off of another miscue in
the infield.
Junior Nick Caparell (N. Attleboro, MA-RF) helped
Worcester State answer as he tied the game up 2-2 when he laced a
two-run single into centerfield in the top of the third.
The Lancers then took the lead in the top of the fifth when senior
Matt Hart (N. Easton, MA-CF) came home on an error
in the infield. Hart had reached on a bunt single to the pitcher
and then moved into scoring position after he stole second and
reached third on a wild pitch.
Down 10-3 in the top of the seventh, Worcester State tried to rally
as sophomore Shane Coakley (Spencer, MA-DH) plated
Hart with two outs, but reliever Brian Guillotte
(New Bedford, MA) preserved the victory for the Bears as he induced
a fly-out to end the contest.
Junior Sean O'Neill (Norwood, MA) earned the win
on the mound for the Bears as he tossed six innings allowing three
runs on four hits. O'Neill also fanned four and walked three
batters.
Third-year Joey Lucier (Brockton, MA) dropped to
2-3 on the season as he allowed seven runs (one earned) on five
hits while he also struck out three and walked two.
Hart went 2-for-3 with three trips to home plate while Claffey and
junior Brian Medairos (Brockton, MA) each tallied
two hits and they each scored a run. Claffey also drove in three
runners.
In the second contest, Worcester State scored first in the top of
the second as Coakley led off the frame with a double, moved to
third on a sac bunt and then scored on a sacrifice fly by junior
Nick Dortona (Malden, MA-SS).
Bridgewater eventually tied the game up 1-1 in the top of the
fourth on an RBI single by Mooney.
The Lancers responded with a crooked number in the top of the fifth
as freshman Jake Sanderski (Millbury, MA-LF) gave
WSC the 2-1 lead with a run-producing single before Caparell and
Coakley each added a sacrifice fly and an RBI triple in
back-to-back at-bats for some insurance.
Medairos jacked a lead-off homer in the top of the fifth to cut the
lead in half, but the WSC starter Mike Borowiec
(Spencer, MA) and the Lancer bullpen retired nine of the last 12
batters to preserve the lead.
Caparell also helped give the Lancers a cushion as he belted a
two-run double to give Worcester State a 6-2 advantage.
Borowiec improved to 4-1 and 3-0 against MASCAC opponents. Borowiec
threw 5 2/3 innings allowing two runs off seven hits while he
walked three and struck out two. Junior Kevin
Hayes (Medford, MA) and senior closer Pat
Good (Hull, MA) pitched 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief
for WSC.
Senior Tim Bonham's (Marshfield, MA) record evens
out to 3-3 while he allowed four runs off seven hits in 4 2/3
innings of work.
Sanderski ended the nightcap going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and
an RBI while Coakley and Dortona each recorded two hits and an RBI.
LaDow went 2-for-4 with a run scored for the Bears.
Worcester State will travel to Colby-Sawyer for a 1 PM contest
while Bridgewater State will close out its regular season tomorrow
with a double-header against Becker starting at noon.