Bears Sweep Vikings

SALEM, Mass. -- Bridgwater State took both games of their scheduled Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader against Salem State on Saturday at The Central Campus Baseball Field. Matt Josselyn (Hanson, Mass.) pitched a complete game in the opener, scattering five hits and allowing just one earned run in leading the Bears to a 6-2 victory. David Kerns (East Cambridge, Mass.) threw six strong innings in game two, striking out eight while giving up one earned run on five hits as Bridgewater State won 8-2. The Bears sweep the season series with the Vikings (3-0) and are now 20-7 on the year and 7-2 in conference. Salem State goes to 6-18 and 3-6 in the MASCAC.

Game One

Bridgewater State took advantage of a first inning error by the Vikings, which led to a two-run single to right by Cam James (Ipswich, Mass.). Brahiam Ortega (Lawrence, Mass.) generated a run for Salem State in the bottom of the first after reaching on an error. A sacrifice bunt led to a steal of third and an errant throw by the catcher, gave the Vikings their first run. An RBI single by Scott Emerson (Peabody, Mass.) made it 3-1 in favor of the Bears in the second before Ortega connected for his third home of the season to left in the bottom of the frame, drawing the Vikings to within 3-2.

The Bears added run in the fifth on an RBI double by Riley Thornell (Wareham, Mass.) before adding two more runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) and Thornell. 

Starter Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.)  went all seven innings for Salem State and was charged with six runs - four earned on eight hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Josselyn  struck out nine for Bridgewater State while allowing just one walk. Wladkowski finished 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs and an RBI while Thornell went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run for the Bears. Ortega had the only multi-hit game for Salem State, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. 

Game Two

Bridgewater State took a 2-0 lead in the first as an RBI single by James and a throwing error by the catcher on a steal attempt gave the Bears a two-run advantage. Back-to-back singles by Ortega and Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) put runners on the corners for Salem State in the bottom of the inning. A wild pitch and passed ball allowed both runners to score, tying the game at 2-2.

Emerson made it 3-2 in the second with a base hit to left. Wladkowsk then laced a single to right that got past the rightfielder, resulting in a three base error as both runners came home, making the score 5-2. The Bears added some insurance in the third on an RBI double by Kyle Suraci (Clinton, Conn.) and RBI triple by Kevin Lindsay (East Bridgewater, Mass.).

Kerns shut out Salem State over the next five innings before giving way to Jack Moynihan (Taunton, Mass.) in the seventh, resulting in a scoreless inning by the junior. Mason Consigli (Northbridge, Mass.) started for Salem State and allowed four earned runs on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout. Chris Smith (Federal Way, Wash.) and Emerson Tucholski (Westlake, Ohio) threw three combined shutout innings for the Vikings in relief. 

Joshua Selander (Granby, Conn.) and Suraci each had two hits for the Bears, combining for four runs and two RBI. Devin Fuegen (Wolcott, Conn.) had two hits in three trips to the plate for Salem State.