Baseball Splits Twinbill with SUNY Canton to Wrap Up Florida Trip

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Bridgewater State University baseball team split a doubleheader with SUNY Canton on Friday at the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida.

The Bears cruised to a 20-6 victory in game one, and dropped a 10-6 decision in the nightcap. Bridgewater wrapped up its seven-game, season-opening trip to Florida with a 2-5 record. SUNY Canton improves to 2-7 on the young season with both wins coming against the Bears.

Game One

The BSU offense exploded for 20 runs on 19 hits in game one as the Bears cruised to the 20-6 victory. Bridgewater scored five runs in the first inning, three in the fourth, three in the sixth, four in the seventh and five in the ninth.

Senior Colin Josselyn (Hanson, Mass.) went 4-for-5 with a walk, two runs scored and five RBI to lead the way for the Bears, while senior Dominic Precopio (Framingham, Mass.) went 3-for-5 with a double, a sacrifice fly and a stolen base. Precopio scored two runs and drove in four.

Sophomore Patrick Hagerty (Stoughton, Mass.) came off the bench to go 3-for-5 at the plate with a single, double and triple. Hagerty also stole a base, scored three runs and knocked in one.

Freshman Ruben Gonzalez (Stoughton, Mass.) continued his impressive start to his rookie season as he went 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles, a walk, three runs scored and two RBI.

Freshman Liam Bell (Wells, Maine) went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, two runs and three RBI to round out the Bears' multiple-hit producers.

BSU senior righthander Shawn Smeglin (Wakefield, Mass.) got the start on the mound for the Bears and picked up his first collegiate win. Smeglin (1-1) allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits over five innings of work. He walked six, hit a batter and fanned four. Senior righty Jack Mannion (Dorchester, Mass.) tossed three scoreless innings of relief to record his first collegiate save. Manning gave up two hits and a walk with a strikeout as he faced 11 batters.

Junior Jesse Iacovetta (Queens, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two runs and an RBI to highlight the Roos' offense.

Two SUNY Canton pitchers combined to allow 20 runs (16 earned) on 19 hits with seven walks, two hit batters and no strikeouts.

Game Two

SUNY Canton banged out 14 hits en route to the 10-6 victory in game two. The Roos led 9-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth before the Bears rallied for three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to make things interesting.

Senior Edward Malinoski (Evans Mills, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBI to highlight SUNY Canton's 14-hit attack. Malinoski was also hit by a pitch as he reached safely four times. Senior Brian Santana (Queens, N.Y.) singled twice and walked in six plate appearances. Santana stole two bases and scored three runs. Senior Collin Lynk (Hudson, N.Y.) also reached safely three times as he went 2-for-4 with a walk and drove in a run.

Senior lefthander Brandon Bautista (Bronx, N.Y.) picked up the win on the mound for the Roos. Bautista worked the first seven innings allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Bell went 2-for-5 with a double, three stolen bases, two runs and two RBI to lead the Bears' offense in game two. Junior Lewis Robinson (New Britain, Conn.) and Livolsi also recorded multiple hits for Bridgewater State. Robinson went 2-for-4 with a double and walk, and scored two runs, while Livolsi was 2-for-5 at the plate with a run and an RBI.

Sophomore righthander Trever Dennett (Kingston, Mass.) suffered the loss on the hill for the Bears as he gave up six runs (five earned) on 11 hits. Dennett (0-1) did not issue a walk and fanned five.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater State will travel to Rhode Island College next Wednesday afternoon for a 3:30 game with the Anchormen.