Baseball Splits Twinbill Versus Mass Maritime

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. --- The Bridgewater State baseball team split a MASCAC doubleheader with Massachusetts Maritime Academy this afternoon at Alumni Park. The Bears took the first game, 7-4, and then dropped the nightcap of the twinbill, 3-2.

Bridgewater State (5-3, MASCAC) and the Buccaneers (3-3, MASCAC) both leave the doubleheader with identical 14-7 records with the split.

In game one, BSC righthander Dave Liffers (Norwell, MA) picked up his third win of the season on the mound for the Bears. Liffers (3-1) went five 2/3 innings giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits while allowing one walk. Liffers also struck out three batters.

Righthander Billy Martin (Virginia Beach, VA) went the distance and absorbed his first loss of the season for the Buccaneers. Martin (3-1) went six innings giving up seven runs on eight hits to go along with three walks and three strikeouts.

Mass. Maritime opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by junior Mark Mozelak (New Hartford, CT-SS) and an RBI single by senior Robert Weber (Norwell, MA).

Bridgewater State responded and promptly tied the score 3-3 in the bottom of the second. BSC sliced the deficit with a two-run double by junior Brad Koneski (N. Dighton, MA-CF) and knotted the score when Koneski came around to score on an RBI single by sophomore Mark Claffey (Bellingham, MA-3B).

The Bears opened the game up scoring four runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by RBI singles by senior classmates Dana Hansen (Hanover, MA-DH) and JT Mooney (N. Attleboro, MA-RF/LF).

After Liffers gave up three runs in the second he settled down and retired 10 of 11 batters going into the top of the sixth inning. With one out in the sixth, Mass. Maritime hit back-to-back singles and added a run when senior Gabe Stallions (Onset, MA-DH) scored from third on a ball that was misplayed in the infield.

The Buccaneers loaded the bases on a walk, with two outs and threatened to score more runs. Liffers was relieved by junior Tim Bonham (Marshfield, MA), who got BSC out of the jam with a ground out to end the inning.

Senior Brian Schilling (Weymouth, MA) came into the game in the seventh and retired the side to pick up his third save in as many opportunities, notching a pair of strikeouts.

In game one, Hansen and Mooney finished the game 2-for-3. Mooney scored twice and added an RBI while Hansen crossed the plate once and plated one run.

For MMA, Weber went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Mozelak went 2-for-3 with two RBI’s and a run scored. Stallions went 1-for-3 added a pair of runs scored.

In game two, sophomore David Hike (Riverview, FL) earned the win on the mound for the Buccaneers. The southpaw went 5 1/3 innings giving up one run while scattering four hits. Hike also allowed three walks and struck out two batters.

Mass. Maritime freshman Nick Levitre (Grafton, MA) earned the save after relieving Hike in the sixth inning. Levitre allowed one walk and struck out three.

Sophomore Spenser Hatstat (Clinton, MA) dropped his record to 2-3 in the loss for the Bears. Hatstat went three 1/3 innings giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits. He also allowed four walks and struck out two.

Hatstat was relieved by sophomore Ben Altman (Taunton, MA) who went two 2/3 innings giving up one run while scattering four hits.

The Buccaneers broke into the scoring column first in the third on a sacrifice fly by senior AJ Garstang (Southington, CT-RF).

Mass. Maritime added another run in the fourth to go up 2-0. After Hatstat started the inning with a strikeout, he allowed a single and a walk to put runners on first and second. Altman entered the game and induced a fielder’s choice groundout to get the runner at second. Mozolak added the second run of the game on some heads-up base running as he went to third on ground ball and scampered home on the throw to first as BSC tried to turn the double-play.

Weber added a key insurance run when he plated junior Tyler Sporfford (Sharon Springs, NY-LF) in the top of the sixth to put the Buccaneers up 3-0.

The Bears cut into the lead when junior Kenny Downey (Braintree, MA-2B) belted two-run double to make the score 3-2, off of Levitre.

Levitre then remained in the game in the bottom of the seventh and pitched a perfect seventh to notch the save.

Downey and Hansen each went 1-for-2 for the Bears in the game two. Downey collected two RBI’s while Hansen added a run scored.

Freshman Will Rodrigeuez (Lowell, MA) went 2-for-3 while five other players finished the game with at least one hit for Mass. Maritime.

The Bears will play four games in the next week. BSC will take-on Eastern Connecticut tomorrow at 4 o’clock and then face nationally ranked Wheaton at home on Friday at 3:30 P.M. Bridgewater State will then continue MASCAC play and entertain a double-header against Westfield at noon on Saturday.

The Buccaneers will host Gordon tomorrow at 3 and a double-header against MASCAC foe Framingham State on Saturday at noon.

Release written by Steven M. Miller, Jr. --- Sports Information Correspondent