Baseball Sweeps Worcester State in MASCAC Twinbill

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State swept Worcester State, 5-2 and 9-4, in MASCAC baseball action this afternoon at Rockwood Park.

Junior David Pierce (E. Bridgewater, MA) went 2-for-3 with a homer in game one while classmate Sean Riley (Fairhaven, MA) was 4-for-4 with two plated runs and a pair of runs scored in the nightcap to help lead the Bears.

With the win, Bridgewater State improves to 23-12 (9-1 MASCAC) while Worcester State dips to 10-23 and 2-8 in the conference standings. BSU remains alone in first place with four league games left in the next week and has the one-game edge on Framingham State, who sits at 8-2.

Pierce sparked the effort in the opener as he smashed his first dinger of the season into right field in the top of the first inning.

The Bears scratched out two more runs to take a 3-0 edge when third-year John Garabedian (Mansfield, MA) crossed home plate an errant throw by the pitcher in an attempt to field a bunt and Pierce tacked on his second RBI in a sacrifice fly.

Worcester State, who had stranded a runner at third in the second and the bases juiced in the third, cut into the deficit on a run producing safety by freshman Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) and a long fly by junior Nick Gezotis (Westfield, MA) to score a run for the 4-2 contest.

Sophomore Dan Ubele (Tyngsboro, MA) followed with a single to put a man on every bag with two outs, but the Lancers would fail to take advantage as it would prove to be their last golden opportunity to get back into the game.

With Bridgewater State on top 5-2 after senior Ian Williams (Taunton, MA) singled in an unearned run in the top of the fifth, the Bears brought in sophomore Andy Sandoski (Harwich, MA) to face runners on first and third, and two men down in the bottom of the frame.

Sandoski swiftly retired his first man to end the threat and he would also set down six of his final seven to end the contest for his first stop of the campaign.

Senior Jim Balboni (Townsend, MA) earned the win for the visitors. Balboni (5-3) allowed two earned runs while scattering eight hits and he issued three free passes. In addition to hitting one batter, he would finish with three punch outs to increase his season total to 52 – which is now good for second in the MASCAC.

Junior Nick Bonofiglio (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) was tagged with the setback as he went the distance for the Lancers. Bonofiglio (3-4) surrendered five runs (three earned) on seven hits to go with three walks and a trio of strikeouts.

Worcester State would finish with the 9-7 advantage in base-knocks as they left eight on base and five in scoring position.

Freshman classmates David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) and Zach George (Attleboro, MA) along with sophomore Joe Carlier (Rockland, MA) all chipped in with two hits apiece. Sophomore Cody Osburn (Fair Oaks, CA) also had a triple to lead off the fourth as he would end the opener with a run scored.

Williams and Pierce were the lone multi-hitters for Bridgewater State.

Pierce, who was a triple shy of the cycle in the first game, led off the second contest with a double and came around to score on a two-bagger by Williams for the early 1-0 lead.

Worcester State knotted the score in the second on an RBI single by Bolio after Osburn started the frame with a walk and moved to second on a bunt.

Bridgewater State promptly responded in the top of the fourth on an unearned run. Pierce, who singled and swiped second, reached third on an errant throw by the shortstop on a fielder's choice. The decision proved to be costly Pierce would scuttle home on an RBI triple by Lawson.

In the bottom of the fourth, Bolio helped equal the score 2-2 for the hosts on an RBI ground-out, but the Bears would eventually break the game open with a six-run top of the fifth.

Riley highlighted the scoring for the visitors with a two-run homer for his conference leading sixth round tripper while junior Craig Stewart (Brockton, MA) added a two RBI double.

Bridgewater State added one more run in the sixth on a run scoring safety by junior Keane Costa (Fairhaven, MA) after Williams hammered a triple.

But Worcester State refused to go away as the Blue and Gold took advantage of a tiring BSU starter Cory Batista (Fall River, MA) and loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Batista would notch a strikeout to help, but he would give up a pair of runs by plunking George and walked sophomore Cory Loomer (Shrewsbury, MA). With the bases juiced, Batista buckled down and fanned his next batter to end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, the hosts threatened one last time with runners on the corners and two men down, but Batista finished off the contest with a ground-out.

Batista (5-3) equaled Tim Hart's (2000-03) career mark for complete games with 16. He fanned six and issued six walks while allowing four runs (three earned) on five base-knocks.

Junior Alex Teal (Malden, MA) shouldered the setback for the Lancers. Teal (4-5) went four-plus innings and gave up a season-high 12 hits to go with six runs (five earned). He would not finish with a walk or a strikeout.

Williams, who was 3-for-4, finished with seven total bases in the nightcap as Costa, Pierce and junior Trevor Lawson (Easton, MA) all chipped in with two hits apiece. Williams, Lawson and Stewart also had two RBIs

Osburn was the lone multi-hitter for WSU as he was 2-for-2 with a pair of runs.

Bridgewater State held the 17-5 lead in hits in the second contest while Riley reached base five times – including a walk in the seventh.

The two squads return to MASCAC action at home on Tuesday. Worcester State hosts Fitchburg State as Bridgewater State entertains Mass Maritime Academy.