By Nicole Belair, Staff Writer

A six-run second inning for Bridgewater State secured the 9-5 win for the Bears in a non-conference game on Monday. The Bears scored the first run of he game on a single in the top of the first, but UMass Dartmouth came out of the inning on top in the bottom half of the inning, as Kenny Michael hit a single to score two runs. However, Bridgewater State was merciless in the top of the second. Due to a two-out error, the Bears managed to plate six runs on four hits and took a 7-2 advantage. UMass Dartmouth pitchers, Michael Theriault and Justin Jacobsen, settled in after the inning, holding the visitors scoreless until the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, Ezequiel Sanches and Mitch Baker, were the first two batters for the Corsairs. They both reached base and pinch hitter, Zach Courier, laced a double down the left field line to plate both runners. Courier then scored on a ground-out from Erick Ramirez, cutting into the Bears’ lead even more. Bridgewater State responded with two more runs on three hits in the eighth, keeping a comfortable distance. UMass Dartmouth first-year, Robbie Carrillo, minimized the damage with a ground-out, strikeout, and foul-out on the three batters he faced near the end of the game. On Wednesday, the Corsairs had a six-run inning of their own, leading them to a 10-4 win over Salve Regina. Junior, Gianni Esposito, started the game on the mound for the Corsairs, striking out five batters and restricting the Seahawks to just three runs. Salve Regina plated their three runs in the top half the second, taking an early advantage. The tables turned quickly, however, when Ramirez reached base and Mike Knell fired a hit over the centerfield fence. With runners on second and third, first-year, Jacen Hudson, scored Sanchez and Taylor Cacciola with a double, securing the Corsairs’ lead. Josh O’Neill also had a hit for UMass Dartmouth, scoring Hudson on a single to left field. Ramirez then drove another ball to left field, scoring O’Neill. In the bottom of the third, Cacciola drove Knell home with his tenth double of the season. Salve Regina tried to make a comeback in the top of the seventh after several scoreless innings, cutting the deficit by three. But, the Seahawks were no match for Cacciola, who ended the seventh inning with a line drive and his fourth home run of the spring. Brandon Polignone added one more run with an RBI single for a final score of 10-4 in favor of the Corsairs. UMass Dartmouth hosted Keene State for a double header over the weekend, defeating the Owls in both games. Bats were quiet for most of the game, and starter, Sean Callahan, went for six shutout innings and allowed only five base hits. In the bottom of the fifth, Polignone had a two-out walk, setting O’Neill up for his first of two home runs on the day. O’Neill hit the first pitch he saw, and sent it over the left field fence. It wasn’t until the seventh inning that Keene State’s offense picked up slightly, as Connor Longley played Mac Struther from second. However, Courier gave a two-run lead back to the Corsairs in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Sanchez from third. With back-to-back base hits in the eighth, Keene State tied the game at three. During the Corsairs’ next at-bat, Nate Tellier scored on a passed ball and Ramirez on a wild pitch, putting the win out of reach for Keene State. Junior Ben Lodge held the Owls off for the remainder of the game with his fourth win of the season, 5-3. Kenny Michael and Mike Knell provided most of the offense for the Corsairs in the second game, each getting a home run and three RBIs. Their home runs started off the bottom of the first inning. Three more runs from Knell and Michael gave UMass Dartmouth an early 5-0 advantage. Keene State fired back in the top of the second, sending two over the fence and closing in on the lead, 5-4. O’Neill’s second home run started the bottom of the second to make the score 6-4, but the game tied at six when Keene State’s John Tarascio plated two runs with a single to right center. The Corsairs collected two more runs in the fifth for an 8-6 advantage. In the ninth, the Corsairs traded a Keene State run for an out, but finished the game with an 8-7 win. Up next, the Corsairs will host Western New England on Thursday, and will travel to Plymouth State for a double header on Saturday.

Photo Courtesy: corsairathletics.com