Gaines Ends Skid for Trailblazers

North Adams, MA - Temperatures in the mid 40's and a swirling wind at Joe Zavattaro Complex made for less than ideal conditions as Bridgewater and MCLA took the field for a doubleheader on Patriots Day.  

Bridgewater started game one hot however, scoring two runs on three straight doubles with one out and one on in the top of the first. The damage would have been worse if MCLA didn't cut down Kelly Ladow (East Falmouth, MA) at the plate for the second out of the inning.  In fact, in game one, the top half of the Bridgewater line up was warm all game. The 2-5 hitters in the Bridgewater starting lineup went 10-14 with four doubles and two home runs. Mark Claffey (Bellingham, MA), Ladow, Matt Greenberg (Norwell, MA) and Brendon Elliot (Brockton, MA) were on all afternoon with Claffey going 4-4.

MCLA had a chance early to respond but a bit of a controversial call in the home half of the first halted a rally and the Trailblazers couldn't get the timely hits when needed leaving nine men on base during the game. MCLA loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batsman bringing designated hitter Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA) to the plate with two outs. Parillo was hit by the Jeff Poupolo (Brockton, MA) offering in the elbow, forcing in a run. However, the home plate umpire ruled that Parillo leaned into the curve ball and negated the play, leaving Parillo at the plate with a 1-1 count. Two pitchers later Parillo grounded to third ending the inning.

MCLA did get a run back in the second. MCLA (16-11, 7-5) had runners on second and third with just one out, but couldn't get the big hit. Paul Procopio (Pittsfield, MA) scored on a John Ripepi (Amsterdam, NY) sacrifice fly, but Cory Burtman (Norwood, MA) struck out with two on to end the inning.

Bridgewater scored three in the third and tacked on some insurance as the game went on for a 10-1 final in game one.

Poupolo went the distance to run his record to 3-3 and James Greeley (Newton, MA) took the loss. Greeley went four innings and allowed seven runs to drop to 4-3 on the season. Steve Sullivan (Wareham, MA) had two hits for the Trailblazers.

Game 2 had both teams getting a quick start in the first inning.  The middle innings were relatively quiet, but that  lead to a wild finish.

MCLA starter Andrew Gaines (Holyoke, MA) gave up a run in the first but delivered just what MCLA needed. The senior came up big helping stop the Trailblazers three game losing streak and keeping them in sole possession of third place with just two conference games left on the schedule.

Elliot, who was 5-7 on the day got Bridgewater (18-13, 9-3) started in the first plating Ladow on an RBI single to centerfield and it looked as Bridgewater was picking up where they left off.  Gaines got out of further trouble though by getting J.T. Mooney (No. Attleboro, MA) to fly to center ending the rally.

MCLA responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. The Trailblazers loaded the bases with nobody out, on an infield single, a hit batter and a walk. Bridgewater starter Dave Liffers (Norwell, MA) then uncorked a wild pitch scoring Ripepi and moving everyone up a base. Liffers retired the next two, before Joe Harrington (Pittsfield, MA) blooped one just over the third baseman in short left scoring two and putting MCLA up 3-1 after one inning.

It looked like that would be enough as Gaines cruised through the first six innings. His only mistake was a fastball he left up to David Kiloski (Lowell, MA) in the fourth who homered making it 3-2. MCLA had a 4-2 lead heading into the seventh when things begun to unravel. Kiloski doubled to lead off and with one out pinch hitter David Dole (West Bridgewater, MA) walked.  With two on and one out the Trailblazers did something they hadn't done all afternoon; after 13 innings of perfect defense in the field they committed back to back errors on a pair of infield grounders scoring a run and loading the bases with one out for Ladow. Ladow hit a bomb to center that Rick Massey (Pittsfield, MA) made a great over the shoulder catch up against the fence in dead center. Massey turned to throw the ball in and things got a little crazy. Ladow and Claffey (who was on first) didn't realize the ball had been caught and stood on first and second. The umpire it appeared initially called the Bears pinch runner at third Seob Yoon (Tokyo, Japan) out for leaving early on the tag up, and Claffey and Brad Koneski were both standing on second with Ladow on first and Yoon crossing the plate. MCLA 2^nd baseman Anthony Russo (Marcy, NY) realizing the confusion got the ball and ran to second base tagging out Claffey as well, making sure of the third out. The umpire called them both out and the Trailblazers left the field believing they had won the game 4-3. Bridgewater protested and after a lengthy conversation it was determined Yoon had not left early and had tagged up and scored the tying run, however Claffey was out because the ball was caught and he was therefore doubled off.

This would all be for not however as MCLA's Steve Sullivan delivered the win for Gaines and his mates in the bottom of the frame.  Sullivan laced a two out single to right field scoring Russo who had led off the inning be getting plunked by Liffers.

Gaines pitched outstanding going the distance allowing six hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out six. Liffers took the loss also going the distance allowing six hits and five runs. Sullivan also had two hits in the nightcap giving him four on the day; Kiloski had a pair for the Bears.

Bridgewater State takes on Endicott at home tomorrow at 3:30pm and MCLA is scheduled to play next at RPI on Wednesday at 4:00pm.