By Jim Fenton
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Here's a look at the week ahead (April 28-May 4) for the Bridgewater State University athletics teams:
MONDAY
BASEBALL, at Fitchburg State, 3:00 PM: The Bears and Falcons meet in a makeup game after being postponed on April 11.
BSU swept a doubleheader at home from Fitchburg State, 10-4 and 8-3, on April 14.
TUESDAY
WOMEN'S LACROSSE: at home, Salem State, 4:00 PM: The fourth-seeded Bears open the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament by hosting the fifth-seeded Vikings in the quarterfinal round at Mazzaferro Field.
BSU (13-4, 4-2 MASCAC) defeated Salem State (9-8, 1-5), 16-4, on April 16. The teams last met in the postseason in 2022 with the Bears winning, 19-6.
The BSU-Salem State winner plays in the semifinal round on Thursday.
SOFTBALL, at Vermont State Lyndon, 3:00 and 5:00 PM: The Bears travel north for a non-conference doubleheader with the Hornets in Lyndonville, Vt.
Vermont State Lyndon is 6-15 and 3-3 in the North Atlantic Conference. The Bears swept the Hornets, 4-0 and 4-0, at home last season.
THURSDAY
MEN'S TENNIS, at home, TBD, 3:30 PM: The second-seeded Bears host a semifinal-round match in the Little East Conference tournament.
BSU's opponent will be determined on Tuesday.
The Bears won the regular season and conference tournament titles a year ago, earning a first-ever trip to the NCAA Division III tourney.
BSU is on a three-match winning streak and is 7-4, going 5-1 in the Little East.
SOFTBALL, at home, Salve Regina, 2:30 and 4:30 PM: The Bears play their final non-conference games, hosting the Seahawks.
The games were postponed on April 15.
Salve Regina is 11-21 and 6-10 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference.
This will be the Morgan's Message Dedication Game at Alumni Park.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Division III New England Championships, 11:00 AM: The Bears travel to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., for the two-day New England meet.
Earning All-New England honors a year ago were Corey Stalters (second in the javelin, sixth in the shot put), Kevin McBirney (fourth in the 1,500) and Chigozie Adigwe (fourth in the 110 hurdles).
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD, at the Division III New England Championships, 11:00 AM: The Bears are in New London, Conn., for the two-day New England meet.
Last season's All-New England performers included Jailene Escalera (second in the 100 and fourth in the 200), Serenity Sands (first in the high jump), Alison McDonough (eighth in the long jump) and Juliana Patrone (eighth in the high jump).
FRIDAY
BASEBALL, at Westfield State, 3:30 PM: The Bears play their final regular-season road game.
BSU won two of three games from the Owls last season.
The Bears entered the week with a 2 1-2 game lead over second-place Westfield State in the MASCAC.
SATURDAY
BASEBALL, at home, Westfield State, Noon and 2:30 PM: The Bears finish the regular season with a doubleheader against the Owls.
BSU will open the conference tournament next week.
SOFTBALL, at home, Westfield State, 12:30 and 2:30 PM: The regular season comes to an end for the Bears as they host the Owls on Senior Day.
Westfield State scored a pair of 4-2 wins over BSU last season.