#1 Bears Get Past #5 Vikings

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Graduate righthander Matt Josselyn (Hanson, Mass.) tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout to lead top-seeded Bridgewater State to a 3-0 victory over #5 seeded Salem State in the quarterfinal round of the 2022 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Baseball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Park.

With the win, Bridgewater advances to the winner's bracket final on Friday afternoon as the Bears (28-13) will host #3 seed Massachusetts Maritime Academy at three o'clock. The Vikings (22-18) will take on second-seeded Westfield State in an elimination game on Friday morning (11:00 AM) at Bridgewater.

Josselyn (7-2) allowed just a pair of singles and a walk over nine innings while striking out six as he recorded his team-leading fifth complete game of the season and fourth shutout. Josselyn, who threw 101 pitches including 70 for strikes, retired the side in order in the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings. He set down the first 11 batters he faced before giving up a two-out single in the fourth.

Josselyn and Salem State junior righthander Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) were locked up in a pitcher's duel as the game was scoreless through 6 ½ innings of play.

The Bears had runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the first but could not score. Bridgewater threatened again in the fifth as back-to-back singles by sophomore shortstop Kevin Lindsay (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and freshman second baseman Scott Emerson (Peabody, Mass.) followed by a ground out put runners on second and third with two outs. Sophomore left fielder Joe Frechette (Plymouth, Mass.) then smacked a hard line drive but right at the shortstop to end the inning.

Bridgewater finally got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore centerfielder Shane Foley (East Bridgewater, Mass.) reached on an error to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on Lindsay's single to right. After Lindsay stole second, Emerson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sophomore right fielder Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) then smashed a two-run single off the fence in right with Emerson also scampering home on the play after some heads-up base running.

The three runs would be all Josselyn would need as he set down the side in order in the eighth and ninth to secure the shutout victory.

Emerson (2-3, R) and Lindsay (2-3, SB, R) paced the BSU offense with two hits piece while Wladkowski added a walk to his game-winning two-run single.

Pare (2-5) pitched well in the setback for the Vikings as he allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits over 6 1/3 innings with a walk and three strikeouts.

(Courtesy Bridgewater State Sports Information)