By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team is entering the postseason riding a wave of momentum.

The Bears won seven of their last eight regular-season games, including five in a row in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

That helped BSU (19-17, 8-6 conference) secure the No. 4 seed in the MASCAC tournament and a home game in the play-in round.

The Bears will host fifth-seeded Salem State University (17-18, 5-8) on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

The BSU-Salem State winners advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament with a game on the road Thursday afternoon. The tourney continues Friday and Saturday at top-seeded Westfield State.

BSU was 13-16, including 3-6 in the MASCAC, after splitting a doubleheader with Curry College on April 22.

The Bears lost just once after that, splitting a twinbill with Salve Regina University, and won a doubleheader from Westfield State last Saturday.

"One thing I said to the girls all season was it's about peaking at the right time and putting it together at the right time," said coach Angela Vecchione.

"I think it's happened just through their grind and their hard work and resiliency. They've been able to grind out every single game. If we lost a game by a lot or by a tough error, these kids have not hung their heads. They're a resilient group and they've got a goal in mind."

BSU lost in the play-in game at Salem State a year ago, 8-0, in a matchup that was halted in the fifth inning.

The Bears were also swept by the Vikings during the regular season this spring, losing on the road back on April 6.

BSU enters the tournament not focusing on those three losses but rather trying to keep their strong recent play going.

"We try not to live in the past because all you can do is learn from it," said Vecchione. "We haven't talked about (last season). It's a new year. We lost that game and lost bad. It's probably deep down going to motivate them, but we won't focus on it. It's been a whole year."

BSU's offense has four regulars above the .300 mark, including sophomore Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.), who is hitting .378 with 16 extra base hits.

Junior Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) is at .377 with 15 extra base hits, including three home runs.

Senior first baseman Amelia Blake (Raynham, Mass.) checks in with a .344 batting average and has driven in 15 runs over the last 13 games.

Sophomore Sydney Schaefer (Swarthmore, Pa.) is batting .327 with 17 doubles and three home runs. Schaefer is one double shy of the Bears' single-season mark of 18 set by Dawn Harrington in 1993.

"The hitting has come on as of late," said Vecchione. "Early on, we were having trouble stringing hits together. They've changed their approaches at the plate and are more locked in."

Four pitchers have started games this season with senior McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) going 8-6 and sophomore Olivia Hargreaves (Weare, N.H.) posting a 7-5 record.

Junior Olyvia Mendonca (Taunton, Mass.) and sophomore Lily Gagnon (East Haven, Conn.) are 3-5 and 1-1, respectively.

"What's great is the pitching staff understands we'll do whatever it takes," said Vecchione. "If you're not having the best day, the next one in has your back.

"That's the mantra this season, they have each other's back."

Pitching, hitting and defense have all come together at the right time of the season, giving BSU a boost going into the tournament.

"It's been a combination of things,'' said Vecchione. "There were games early when we hit, but our defense wasn't there or our pitching was lacking. I think it's been a culmination of doing all the little things on both sides of the ball and on the bases. Communication has been huge, understanding we have one team, one goal.

"I think this team is focused. They're living in the moment, not the past. Take the good with you from today. That's what they're trying to do.

"They've got the eye on the prize and are locked in. They're confident in their abilities and that they can play with anybody."

The other play-in game Tuesday has third-seeded Worcester State (23-12, 9-5) hosting the sixth-seeded Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (12-21, 5-8).

Westfield State (31-9, 11-3) and second-seeded Framingham State (25-13, 10-4), the defending tourney champion, will host games Thursday to start the double-elimination part of the tourney.