Baseball Falls Twice at Westfield State in MASCAC Opener

Westfield, Mass. – The Framingham State University baseball team opened Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon and were defeated twice by Westfield State University by scores of 13-2 and 5-2.

THE BASICS:

Scores:

Game 1: Westfield State 13, Framingham State 2
Game 2: Westfield State 5, Framingham State 2

Records: Framingham State (1-3, 0-2 MASCAC), Westfield State (4-0, 2-0 MASCAC)

Location: Hagan Field – Westfield, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Game 1 -

• In the opener, the Rams got on the board first with a run in the top of the third inning as Bobby Higgins singled home a run.
• Framingham State starter Josh Jezouit held the Owls without a hit until there were two-out in the fourth inning. 
• The Owls found some two-out lightning, as Sean Moorhouse reached with a single, Ethan Day followed with a single in the hole to short, and Nolan Florence doubled to deep centerfield to plate two runs.
• Kyle Darby slashed a double right down the right field line to score Florence, and Damien Manascalco delivered a well-placed two-strike single through the right side after fouling several pitches off to drive in Darby for a 4-1 Owls lead.
• Zach Graveline lined a base hit through the middle to score Maniscalco and chased Jezouit from the game.
• Westfield tacked on eight more runs in the fifth, with the big blow a 2-run triple from Day.
• Nate Langmeier picked up his second win in five days, working four innings and allowing just one run.  Troy Saulnier tossed a pair of scoreless innings for the Owls and Jack Fischer tossed an inning.
• The Rams added another run in their final at bat on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Cam Gilroy.
• Higgins and Ryan Boyle each had a pair of hits for the Rams in the opener.

Game 2 – 

• In game two, Framingham scored twice in the second with Nick Simoneko and Anthony Herman leading off the inning with a pair of singles.  Simonenko came around to score on a bases loaded walk and Herman was driven in by a bases-loaded walk to Higgins.
• Westfield trailed 2-1 into the fifth inning before erupting for four runs to swing the game.   Casey Boudreau and Nick Martin rapped back to back doubles to tie the game at 2-2, and Brett Dooley followed with an RBI single through the left side to take a 3-2 lead that the Owls would not relinquish. Steve Saucier followed with a pinch-hit RBI single, and Damian Manascalco drew a bases loaded walk later in the inning for the 5-2 final margin.
• Martin, Dooley and Nolan Florence each had a pair of hits for Westfield.  Florence had a big day at the plate with four hits in seven trips, two doubles and four runs batted in in the two games.
• Chris Schoen earned the win, the first of his collegiate career, in relief for the Owls.  He came in and worked out of a bases-loaded jam he inherited in the bottom of the bottom of the fourth, then tossed a shutdown 1-2-3 sixth inning after the Owls grabbed the lead.  Trevor Edwards came in for a 1-2-3 seventh to earn his second save of the season.
• For Framingham, Jack Foley took the loss in relief of Anthony Panza, who allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out five through 4.1 innings. 
• Simonenko finished with a pair of hits.

UP NEXT:

The two teams square off again on Saturday night with a pair of games at the NEBC beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Release courtesy of WSU Sports Information