By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (March 24-30) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
TUESDAY
BASEBALL, at home, Rhode Island College, 3:00 PM: The Bears (6-6) make their 2025 Alumni Park debut by hosting the Anchormen.
RIC (6-7) and BSU met in 2023 with the Bears winning, 6-5, in a game called after six innings due to darkness.
WEDNESDAY
SOFTBALL, at home, Bates College, 3:00 and 5:00 PM: The Bears and Bobcats meet for the first time since a 3-1 Bates' win in Florida in 2018.
BSU (6-4) has been idle since losing a doubleheader to UMass Dartmouth on March 18.
Bates (7-3) will be playing for the first time since returning home from Clermont, Fla.
MEN'S TENNIS: at home, Roger Williams, 3:30 PM: The Bears continue the non-conference portion of the schedule by hosting the Hawks.
BSU is 1-1 while Roger Williams has won all six matches in the spring semester.
The Bears lost to the Hawks, 9-0, last season and last defeated Roger Williams in 2006.
THURSDAY
BASEBALL, at Curry College, 3:30 PM: The game was originally scheduled for Monday (Mar. 24) but was postponed due to rain.
BSU defeated the Colonels, 11-4, at home last season. The Bears begin the week on a four-game winning streak.
Curry is off to a 5-7 start and ended a five-game losing streak over the weekend.
FRIDAY
BASEBALL, at home, Framingham State, 3:00 PM: The Bears begin the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule by hosting the Rams.
The Bears have won or shared three straight conference titles.
BSU won two of three games against the Rams last season. Framingham State is 1-11 this season.
FRIDAY/SATURDAY
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Emory Thrills on the Hills meet, 10:00 AM: The Bears will be sending student-athletes to Atlanta, Ga., for a meet hosted by Emory University.
The meet will conclude on Saturday starting at 10:00 AM.
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Emory Thrills on the Hills meet, 10:00 AM: The Bears will be represented at the Emory University-hosted meet in Atlanta, Ga.
The two-day event finishes on Saturday beginning at 10:00 AM.
SATURDAY
MEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Tufts Snowflake Classic, 9:00 AM: The Bears travel to Medford for the meet hosted by the Jumbos.
BSU was third last season at the Tufts Sunshine Classic.
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD, at the Tufts Snowflake Classic, 9:00 AM: The Bears were third at last season's Tufts Sunshine Classic.
Jailene Escalera (Rockland, Mass.) broke her own school record in the 200-meter dash and won two events to lead BSU.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE, at Worcester State, 11:00 AM: The Bears start the MASCAC schedule with a trip to face the Lancers.
BSU lost to Worcester State, 13-12, last season.
The Bears are 8-1 with four straight wins. This will be their first game in a week since a victory at Emmanuel College.
The Lancers are off to a 5-3 start.
BASEBALL, at Framingham State, 1:00 and 3:30 PM: The Bears play a MASCAC doubleheader on the road, ending a three-game series with the Rams.
SOFTBALL, at Framingham State, 1:00 and 3:00 PM: The MASCAC season opens with a road doubleheader for the Bears.
BSU split a doubleheader with the Rams last season. Framingham State is 9-3 and has won three straight MASCAC titles.
MEN'S TENNIS, Vermont State Castleton, 2:00 PM: The Bears start the Little East Conference schedule by hosting the Spartans.
BSU defeated Vermont State Castleton on the road last season, 7-2, on the way to the Little East title.
EQUESTRIAN, IHSA Zone 1, Region 4 Championships: The Bears take part in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association event at Horsebarn Hill in Storrs, Conn., with the University of Connecticut hosting.