Holmes' Two-Hit Shutout Sends Bears into MASCAC Tournament

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – David Holmes (Easton, Mass.) tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the Bridgewater State University baseball team to a 1-0 victory over MCLA and a sweep of a crucial Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader.

Needing a sweep of the twinbill to secure a spot in the upcoming MASCAC Tournament, the Bears recorded a 7-1 victory in game one behind the solid pitching of Andy Sadoski (Harwich, Mass.).  Holmes then capped of the sweep with a brilliant two-hit shutout in game two.  Bridgewater is seeded sixth in the tournament and will travel to third-seeded Framingham State University on Thursday for a three o'clock opening round game with the Rams.

Holmes (2-4) retired 21 of the 24 batters he faced giving up just a pair of singles and walk while striking out five over seven innings.  After allowing a hit and walk to open the bottom of the first inning,  Holmes set down the next 20 batters in a row before giving up a two-out single in the seventh.

The Bears scored the only run of the game in the top of the fifth thanks in part to an MCLA miscue.  With two outs, Jacob Souza (Acushnet, Mass.) reached on an error by the shortstop and then promptly stole second. Colin Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) followed with an RBI single into left field to give BSU the 1-0 lead.

Robert Jutras (Readsboro, Vt.) was saddled with the tough loss for the Trailblazers despite pitching very well.  Jutras (0-6) allowed just the one unearned run on three hits and a pair of walks with two strikeouts.

The Bears wrap up regular season play with an overall mark of 13-20 (6-8 MASCAC).  The Trailblazers end the season at 3-23 (1-13 MASCAC).