FRANKLIN, Mass. – April 27, 2023 – Dean College senior Brian Dovidio (Ramsey, N.J.) set a single-season record for hits with his 53rd as the Bulldogs fell to Springfield College 14-11.

Dovidio's record hit came on a single in the bottom of the fifth. He finished 4 for 5 with three runs to lead the Dean hitters.

Dean (8-28) wraps up the regular season on Saturday with a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) twin bill at Colby-Sawyer. Springfield (12-18-1) hosts Coast Guard for a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game with a 3:30 p.m. first pitch.

Springfield scored three runs on three hits to begin things in the first. Senior Joe Traversa (Pittsfield, Mass.) doubled to deep center to bring home senior Mark Nofri (Naugatuck, Conn.) who led off the game with a walk. Traversa then scored on an RBI single by senior Cadin Maynard (Waterford, Conn.). Sophomore Luke DiMauro (Haddam, Conn.) added a sac fly to right for the third Pride run.

The Bulldogs answered with a pair in their first at-bat. Brian Dovidio scored on a throwing error on Jacob Paschetto's (East Longmeadow, Mass.) double to left. Paschetto then scored on a Brayden McLaughlin (Forest Grove, Ore.) sac fly to left.

After a scoreless second inning, Spring took a 5-2 lead in the third. Traversa scored on a Maynard sac fly to right. DiMauro then knocked in senior Michael Barrett (Longmeadow, Mass.) with a single.

Dean responded once again with two runs in the bottom half of the third scoring on a fielder's choice by sophomore Cam Watkins (East Haddam, Conn.) and a sac fly from first-year Tyler Giambra (Prospect, Conn.).

Springfield sophomore Andrew Sweet (Charlton, Mass.) led off the fourth with a solo home run over the left field wall for a 6-4 Pride lead. A few batters later, Barrett singled in a pair to put the visitors on top 8-4. Barrett then scored on a Michael Lepere (Beacon, N.Y.) double. DiMauro then knocked in Lepere with a single to left for a 10-4 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, senior Andrew Sullivan (Agawam, Mass.) singled home Dovidio to pull Dean to within 10-5. Paschetto later scored on a third strike wild pitch.

The Pride added a run in the fifth on a Nofri sac fly that scored Sweet.

The Bulldogs cut into the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Paschetto had an RBI ground out, while McLaughlin knocked in Dovidio with a double.

After a scoreless sixth, Springfield plated three in the top of the seventh, one on an error and two on a single by senior Cole Crynock (Broad Brook, Conn.).

For the fifth straight time, when the Pride scored in the top of an inning, Dean had an answer in the bottom half. McLaughlin singled home Seth Cruz (East Freetown, Mass.) for his third RBI of the game.

Dean scored the lone run of the eighth inning on an RBI single from Dovidio.

In the bottom of the ninth, Watkins singled home pinch runner DeMarcus King (Austin, Texas) to make the score 14-11, but that would be as close as Dean would get.

Sophomore Max Giacco (Meriden, Conn.) led the Pride hitters with a 5 for 5 effort at the plate. Sweet was 3 for 5 with a home run and three runs, while Traversa finished 3 for 3 with three runs. Barrett went 2 for 2 with two RBIs, three runs and a couple of stolen bases.

McLaughlin had two hits and three RBIs for Dean.

First-year Hunter Espinosa (East Haddam, Conn.) tossed two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts for the Bulldogs.

Senior Michael White (Granby, Mass.) was credited with the win after three innings of work with one earned run surrendered.