Burnett Homers Twice, Owls Fly Past Elms 9-5

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State third baseman Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.) launched a pair of home runs to fuel the Owls offense in a 9-5 victory over Elms College on Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference game from Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Mass.

Burnett extended his hitting streak to eight games while recording six multi-hit games during that stretch. He piled up three hits with a game-high four RBI and three runs scored. Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) and Ethan Day (Meriden, Conn.) each logged a pair of hits. Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Trey Faulkner (Springfield, Mass.) recorded two RBIs apiece for the Owls, which moved to 11-15 on the year.

Day's first inning single totaled his 100th hit of his career and added to that tally with a ninth-inning triple. 

Aaron Young (Somers, Conn.) led the Blazers with three hits, and Tyler Galenski drove home a pair of runs for Elms, which dropped to 17-11 with the loss.

Burnett put Westfield in front in the first inning with a solo homer to open the scoring. Elms answered with a run in the first on an RBI groundout from Galenski, then Seamus Higgins (Rutland, Mass.) gave the Blazers the lead in the second inning with a run-scoring groundout of his own.

In the fourth frame, Martin racked up two RBI on a two-out single to push the Owls ahead 3-2 after four innings. The Blazers found the equalizer in the fifth inning with Galenski tallying his second RBI of the contest to even up the score.

Burnett and Faulkner produced impactful hits in the seventh inning to allow for the Owls to retake and then extend the lead. With two outs in the inning and Martin aboard, Nick Marshall (Reading, Mass.) singled to extend the frame, then Burnett supplied major damage in the form of a three-run homer for his eighth long ball of the year to give Westfield a 6-3 lead.

The inning continued as Slattery laced a double, then after a walk from Day, Faulkner delivered a run-scoring double to boost the Owls lead to four runs.

The Blazers would cut into the Owls deficit with a pair of runs in the eighth inning, but the Owls would get both runs back in the ensuing half inning. Day drove home Burnett with an RBI triple, then Faulkner added a sacrifice fly to regain their four-run lead, eventually sealing the win.

Dominic Novio (Mansfield, Mass.) got the start for the Owls, pitching the first three innings of the contest and allowing two runs on three hits. Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) was effective out of the bullpen, picking up his first victory of the season after two innings of work.

Austin Roy (Cromwell, Conn.) started for the Blazers, giving up three runs on five hits across five innings. Ross Tine was saddled with the losing decision after allowing four runs in 1.2 innings of relief.

Westfield State will return home for their next game as the Owls enter back into conference play and will play host to Salem State on Friday from Hagan Field at 3:30 P.M.