Baseball loses late lead in opener, fall in nightcap to Owls
North Adams, MA-- Westfield State's Nolan Florence blasted three home runs, including the go ahead dinger in the top of the seventh inning, to lift the Owl baseball team to a sweep of the MCLA Trailblazers this afternoon at the Zavattaro complex. Westfield rallied past MCLA 9-7 in the opener behind Florence's heroics and then erupted for a 17-4 six inning win in the nightcap.
The Owls improve to 19-12 overall and are 10-5 in the conference. MCLA falls to 10-22 overall and just 1-14 in the league.
Game One: Westfield 9, MCLA 7
This game featured five lead changes as the Owls overcame a late Trailblazer lead to steal the opener. MCLA scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as Randy Adams ripped a two run double to score Austin Rachiele and pinch runner Isaiah Tucker to give the hosts a 7-6 heading to the seventh inning.
With MCLA just three outs away from stealing the victory, Westfield and Florence had other ideas. Casey Boudreau lead off the inning by being hit by a James Sneyd offering to bring Florence to the dish. The right handed slugger had already homered twice in the contest and facing Sneyd for the first time, he launched a two run bomb to left field to give the Owls an 8-7 advantage. The three home run game tied a school record for the Owls.
Westfield would add an insurance tally on a sacrifice fly to take a 9-7 lead. MCLA would bring the tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh, but Westfield's Joseph Fischer would strike out Jayco Pena and end the contest.
Early on, MCLA led 3-1 as Tristan Ciarlo brought home two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Florence and the Owls answered quickly as he connected for his first homer of the afternoon off MCLA starter Aidan Brett to pull the Owls within one at 3-2.
Florence would deliver again in the third inning, this time a three run shot to give the Owls a 5-3 lead. MCLA would tie things up in the fourth as Robinson Guerrero-Baez drove in two with a double of his own and the score was 5-5.
Westfield took a brief 6-5 lead in the sixth inning which set up the MCLA rally in the bottom half prior to Florence's game changing blast.
MCLA outhit Westfield in the opener 10-9. Adams and Ty Mazzeo each had a pair of hits. Sneyd took the loss in relief of Brett.
Florence ended the day going 3-3 with 6 RBI's and 3 runs scored. Sam Palmer and Damien Maniscalco each had two base hits. Fischer earned the win in relief for the Owls.
Game Two: Westfield 17, MCLA 4
Game two was tied up at 4-4 thru four innings of play before the Owls erupted for 12 runs in the fifth inning to take the game over. The Owls sent 18 batters to the plate in the inning against three Trailblazer pitchers. Ethan Day delivered a two run single and Boudreau doubled in another run. Maniscalco connected on a two run single as well to highlight the frame.
Westfield would outhit MCLA 19-7 and amassed seven walks. Owl right fielder Jake Butler led all players going 4-4 with three runs scored. Maniscalco went 3-5 as well. Nick Martin, Justin Neidel, Max Silverman, Day, and Kyle Darby each had two safeties.
The MCLA offensive attack was highlighted Robinson Guerrero-Baez' home run. Jayco Pena had a nice afternoon going 3-3 as well.
The Trailblazers used five pitchers on the day as Isaiah Tucker suffered the loss.
Westfield's Sean Casey earned the win in relief of starter Samuel Palmer.