Westfield State, Salem State Split MASCAC Doubleheader

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Salem State salvaged a split behind first-year pitcher Cam Fisher (Burlington, Conn.), who led the Vikings to a 5-2, game two victory at Hagan Field on Sunday afternoon. Fisher is now 3-0 on the year after allowing just two runs on six hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Senior Ryan Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) tossed 6.1 innings of one-run baseball to lead Westfield State to a 3-1 game one victory.

The Owls now own a 17-9 overall record and a 3-1 mark in the league. Salem State is now 12-9 on the season and 5-4 in the MASCAC.

GAME 1

Salem State loaded the bases in the bottom of the first as the first three batters reached base. James Dolan delivered an infield single to score the first run of the game. The Owls quickly responded in the bottom half, with a wild pitch allowing Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) to cross the plate. Donahue (W, 3-1) retired ten straight hitters before allowing a walk in the seventh inning with one out. He gave up just one hit after the first frame, finishing his outing by surrendering one run on two hits, walking four and fanning four in 6.1 innings, securing his third win of the season.

Joe Espinola (Plymouth, Mass.) entered the final inning with one out and a runner on first. A pop-up to second then a fly out to right field completed the series win as Espinola recorded his first save of the season.  

In the fourth inning, a pair of singles from John Bessette (Andover, Mass.) and Robison Guerrero Baez (Dominican Republic), then an intentional walk to Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) later in the frame loaded the bases. With two outs in the inning, Slattery laced a grounder into leftfield, scoring two runs which would ultimately hold as the game-winning hit for Westfield. 

Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) got the starting nod for Salem, taking the loss after pitching five innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts. 

GAME 2

In game two, Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) led off the frame with double as Westfield would eventually load the bases with nobody out. A wild pitch allowed Florence to score, then three batters later, Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) added a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Sean Clark (Dudley, Mass.) as the Owls would take a 2-0 lead into the third inning.

Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.) cut the Owls lead in half in the ensuing top half, doubling a line drive into the left-centerfield gap to score Mark Smith from first base, making it a 2-1 ballgame. 

The Owls had a scoring opportunity to get the run back in the third inning, putting runners on the corners with one out. However, Fischer and the Vikings defense were able to escape the frame without allowing a run, forcing a grounder back to the pitcher where Fischer tossed it to Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.), who then cut down the Owls at home plate to end the frame. 

Salem carried the momentum into the fourth inning, tallying three runs on three hits while taking advantage of an Owls error to take the lead. Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) started the rally with a RBI single, then after a Dylan Adamson (Lunenburg, Mass.) sac fly, Mark Smith (East Haven, Conn.) delivered a two-run double into the gap, pulling the Vikings ahead 4-2.

The Vikings tacked on a run in the sixth frame on an Edward Field single with Fisher holding the Owls bats down for the later portion of the game.   

Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing five runs (three earned) on eights hits over 5.1 innings, walking two and punching out two.

Salem State travels to Framingham for a conference doubleheader starting at 1:00 P.M tomorrow.

(Westfield State Athletics)