Bears Triple Up Vikings 9-3

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications

SALEM, Mass. --  The duo of Ryan Flaherty (Duxbury, Mass.) and Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) went a combined 7-for-10 with 6 RBI to give Bridgewater State a 9-3 Massachusetts State Colligate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over Salem State on Friday afternoon at The Central Campus Baseball Field. The Bears are now 9-7, 3-1 while the Vikings drop to 9-7, 2-2. 

Pitchers of Record

Starting pitcher Matthew Seavey (North Attleboro, Mass.) continued his unbeaten streak, improving his record to 4-0 on the season. He pitched six innings, conceding three runs, of which only one was earned.  Kyle Banche (Torrington, Conn.) recorded his second loss of the season (1-2), pitching 1.1 innings and allowing four hits and five runs, of which four were earned. Michael Cobb (Waltham, Mass.) recorded the save pitching three shutout innings while allowing two hits with four strikeouts.

How Did It Happen?

• After a scoreless first inning, Salem State took the lead with two runs in the following inning, with Aidan Lynch's (North Andover, Mass.) RBI double being the highlight of the inning. Later, the Vikings extended their lead by adding another run when Connor Dolan (Rockland, Mass.) hit a base hit to center field. Both runs were unearned in the inning.
• In the top of the third inning, Bridgewater managed to even up the score at two-apiece when Flaherty hit a two-run double to the base of the fence in left field. 

• Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) was at the plate, and Mark Smith (East Haven, Conn.) was on third base when Duggan's hit drove home the third run of the game for Salem State. As a result, the Vikings regained the lead by a score of 3-2 in the third. However, the Bears answered back with a bang, scoring five runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by Joe Frechette (Plymouth, Mass.), who drove in a pair of runs with a single and a sacrifice fly to center as Bridgewater State went up by four runs by a score 7-3. 
• The Bears scored two more runs in the eighth to secure the victory against the Vikings by a final score of 9-3. This win was the first in a three-game series between the two teams.

 Behind The Numbers?

• Salem State's Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.) picked up a no decision, pitching three innings, allowing two hits and two unearned runs.
• Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.) was the only Viking with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. 
• For the Bears Flaherty, Wladkowski and Frechette combined for eight of Bridgewater State's nine runs in the game. 

What's Next?

Salem State will be looking to bounce back tomorrow afternoon as both teams will continue the series at Bridgewater as part of a doubleheader. Game times are scheduled for noon and 2:30 p.m.