VERO BEACH, Fla. – The Bridgewater State University baseball team used an eight-run seventh inning to post a 12-3 victory over Saint Mary's College of Maryland on Monday afternoon at the Vero Beach Sports Complex.
The Bears improve to 3-2 on the young season with the win, while Saint Mary's falls to 4-8.
Leading 3-2 after six full innings, the Bears exploded for eight runs on eight hits and walk in the top of the seventh. Sean Riley (Fairhaven, Mass.) started the onslaught with an RBI double and capped it off with a two-run single.
The Bears banged out 20 hits in the win led by a 4-for-6 performance by David Pierce (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Pierce doubled, stole a base, scored three times and drove in a run. Riley finished 3-for-5 with a run and three RBI, while Trevor Lawson (Easton, Mass.) went 3-for-4 four with a run and an RBI.
Jose Polanco (Lawrence, Mass.), John Garabedian (Mansfield, Mass.), Nicholas White (Bellingham, Mass.) and Tory Buck (Shelburne Falls, Mass.) chipped in with two hits apiece for the Bears. Polanco went 2-for-6 with a run, while Garebedian finished 2-for-6 with a triple, two runs and an RBI. White went 2-for-4,, scored one run and drove in three. Buck was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored.
The Bears had taken the 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth on White's two-run single.
BSU starter Patrick Martin (Rockland, Mass.) made his debut for the Bears as he worked the first six innings. Martin (1-0) gave up two runs on eight hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
Sam Beatty pitched well for the Seahawks as he worked three shutout innings giving up just two hits while fanning three.
The Bears torched the St. Mary's bullpen for 12 runs over the final six innings.
The win marked the 482nd in the illustrious career of BSU skipper Rick Smith. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Smith is 482-259-4 (.650) in 20 seasons as the Bears' head coach.
After an off day, Bridgewater returns to the diamond on Wednesday morning and will take on St. Mary's at 10:00.