Baseball Splits with Salem

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) drove in the go-ahead run in game one as the Owls split a MASCAC doubleheader at Salem State on Monday afternoon. Westfield took game one 3-2 before the Vikings rallied ahead for a 3-2 victory in game two.

The Owls drop the season series after losing game one this past Thursday, giving them a 17-8 overall record and a 4-5 conference mark. The Vikings move to 8-12 on the year and 4-5 in the league.

GAME 1

Westfield wasted no time getting in the scoring column after Robison Baez (Dominican Republic) launched a leadoff home run for his third round-tripper of the season for a 1-0 lead. A Salem error followed by a Nick Marshall (Reading, Mass.) single set up Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) who drove home Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.) on a RBI single to left to make it a 2-0 Owls advantage.

The Vikings answered in the fourth inning as three consecutive walks led to one run scoring on a passed ball followed by a sacrifice fly from Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) to tie the game.

Junior reliever Sean Shea (Longmeadow, Mass.) was exceptional out of the bullpen for the Owls, tossing two scoreless frames while striking out the side in the sixth inning after Westfield took the lead on a two out double from Neidel which scored Colin Ryan (North Chelmsford, Mass.).

With the Owls leading 3-2 into the bottom of the seventh, the Vikings led off the inning with a single from Boucher who then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Connor Dolan (Rockland, Mass.). Despite the effort, Michael Hall (Westfield, Mass.) was able to close out the game on a fielder's choice then a fly out to center to lock down his league-leading fifth save of the campaign.

Shea picked up his second win of the season in relief while Vikings starter Cam Fisher (Burlington, Conn.) took the loss, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked one. Owls starter Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.) battled command issues throughout the contest but limited damage and kept Westfield in the game, giving up two runs across four innings. He walked seven and fanned three.

GAME 2

The Owls scored first again in the final game of the series with Burnett lacing a single into left field to plate Baez. Westfield had a chance to increase the lead in the ensuing top half, putting two runners aboard with one out. However, Vikings starter Nick Bamforth (Stoneham, Mass.) worked out of trouble with a strikeout and a fly out.

Salem tied the game in the second inning on fielder's choice from Michael Buccaro (Stratford, Conn.), capitalizing on an Owls miscue earlier in the frame.

The Owls pushed ahead in the fifth inning with Burnett delivering his second RBI of the game on a single to leftfield with two outs.

Westfield starter Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) put forth a second consecutive strong start for Westfield, allowing only one run unearned run entering the sixth inning. After a groundout to begin the frame, a Westfield error followed by a hit by pitch put two runners on base with one out.

The next batter, Dolan, tied the game by singling into left to bring in Aidan Lynch (North Andover, Mass.), then Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) knocked home the eventual game-winning run on a base hit through the right side, giving Salem a 3-2 lead heading into the seventh.

Westfield went down in order in the seventh as Bamforth picked up the complete game effort, securing the win while allowing two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. Vasseur tossed 5.1 innings, with only one of his three runs counting as earned. He gave up just three hits and walked three while punching out six.

Westfield out hit Salem seven to five, but committed four errors compared to none from the Vikings.

Westfield State will return to action tomorrow as the Owls visit MCLA for a MASCAC game at 3:00 P.M.