Jeff Puopolo Named MASCAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Bridgewater State University senior Jeff Puopolo has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Baseball Pitcher of the Week.

Puopolo helped the Bears advance to the championship round of the 2011 NCAA Division III New England Regional as he earned all-tournament honors.  The Brockton, Massachusetts native hurled eight strong innings in Bridgewater’s 6-3 loser’s bracket final win over Wheaton College.  He allowed three runs (two earned) on ten hits while striking out ten.

In 11 appearances this season which included ten starts, Puopolo posted a record of 4-4 with three complete games.  He also struck out 69 batters in 55 innings of work as he currently ranks tenth in all of Division III with 11.29 strikeouts per nine innings.

The BSU nine completed the 2011 season with a record of 26-17.  The Bears captured the MASCAC Tournament championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 13th time in program history.  Seeded eighth at the New England Regional, Bridgewater advanced to the championship round before being eliminated by regional champion Western New England College.

Puopolo appeared in 31 games on the mound over his four seasons with the Bears as he made 26 starts.  In 158 2/3 innings of work, he went 13-12 with 169 strikeouts and a 4.59 ERA.  The 2010 MASCAC Pitcher of the Year, Puopolo wraps up his career ranked fourth all-time at BSU in strikeouts.