WESTFIELD, Mass. -- David Skiendiel went 4-5 and drove in three run as fifth-seeded Bridgewater State University posted a 14-5 come-from-behind victory over #4 Salem State University in the opening round of the 2019 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Baseball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Bud and Jim Hagan Field in Westfield.
The win marked the Bears' first MASCAC Tounrament victory in seven years.
With the win, Bridgewater State (17-20) advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament and will face top seed and tournament host Westfield State University at 3:00 p.m. today. The Vikings (19-19) are eliminated from the tournament with today's loss.
The Vikings jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run single by Madoc Fischer in the bottom of the third inning. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Traverse Briana in the fourth and another by Brendan Greene in the fifth extended the lead to 4-0.
The Bears rallied to tie it at 4-4 in the top of the sixth as they scored four runs off five hits. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single by Dominic Precopio and a pair of RBI doubles by Gavin Sparkman and Skiendiel.
Two Salem fielding errors and a sacrifice fly by Precopio put the Bears out in front, 5-4, in the top of the seventh.
Bridgewater sent nine men to the plate and pushed across three runs to take an 8-4 lead in the top of the eighth. Skiendiel and Lewis Robinson rapped RBI base hits in the frame while the third run scored on a wild pitch.
The Viking cut the deficit to 8-5 in the home half of the eighth on a RBI single by Rebello. David Kearns came on with the tying run at the plate in the frame and got a big strikeout to end the inning and maintain the lead for the Bears.
The Bears put the game out of reach with a six-run, ninth inning. The inning featured three hits, including an RBI single by Skiendiel and a two-run double by Liam Bell, as well as a pair of walks and two key Salem errors.
Alex McGrath picked up the win in relief for Bridgewater. McGrath (2-1) allowed a run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Kerns earned his team-leading fourth save of the season.
Jarrett Archambault worked the first five innings for the Bears and gave up four runs (three earned) on nine hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Bell (2-for-6, 2R, 2RBI), Precopio (2-for-4, BB, R, RBI), Robinson (2-for-6, R, RBI), Sparkman (2-for-6, 2R, RBI) and Kevin Bresciani (2-for-4, 2BB, 2R) each had a pair of hits for the Bears. Colin Josselyn reached safely in four out of his five plate appearances as he walked four times and doubled.
Brock Riley took the loss for Salem in relief of starter Andrew McLaughlin. Riley (4-6) gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits with two walks and a strikeout. McLaughlin pitched into the sixth as he allowed four runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings with a walk and a strikeout. Shawn Rebello and Fisher each had two hits for the Vikings.