Owls Rally Past Bears in Series Opener, 8-7

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State sophomore John Nickerson (Chelmsford, Mass.) capped off a five-run, seventh inning with a two-RBI single into center to plate the tying and go-ahead runs as the Owls rallied past Bridgewater State 8-7 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Friday afternoon from Hagan Field.

The Owls currently sit in third place in the conference standings, improving to 11-8 in the MASCAC and 17-18 overall. The Bears, who are currently first in the conference standings, drop to 29-9 overall and 15-4 in conference play.

Westfield trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom half of the seventh where the Owls finally broke through for a crooked number. A throwing error from the Bears began the inning, then three straight walks scored the Owls first run of the frame. After a Bridgewater pitching change, Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) trimmed the deficit to one run after belting a two-run double into the right-centerfield gap.

With runners on second and third with nobody out, Bears reliever Trey Yesu (Monson, Mass.) proceeded to strike out the next batter, then forced a ground out to third to keep both runners in scoring position. Nickerson followed, and on the eighth pitch of the at bat, the sophomore catcher stung a ball back up the middle and into centerfield, scoring Ethan Day (Meriden, Conn.) and Slattery to push the Owls ahead, 6-5.

In the eighth inning, Day provided the Owls with two key insurance runs after punishing a fly ball over the centerfield wall for a two-out, two-run home run to drive the Owls lead to three. The final tally for Westfield proved to be the game-winning run.

With the Bears down to their final out, Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, Mass.) kept the game alive with an RBI single to left, plating Cam James (Ipswich, Mass.) to make it a two-run deficit. Matthew Pigeon (Canton, Mass.) followed, and laced a liner down the right-field line, allowing for Riley Thornwell (Wareham, Mass.) to trot home as the Bears shaved another run off the deficit.

With the tying run on third and go-ahead runner on second, Sean Goudey (Weymouth, Mass.) punched a screaming line drive into right field where Owls right fielder Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) made a sliding catch to preserve the lead and secure the victory for Westfield.

The Owls opened the scoring for the contest in the bottom half of the first with Day scoring Neidel on a single to left. Bridgewater answered by scoring the next five runs in the game, with three in the second inning and two in the fourth. Jay Wladkowski (South Kingston, R.I.) singled to right for the Bears third run of the game, then Joshua Selander (Granby, Conn.) rocketed a two-run double to right to send across the Bears fourth and fifth runs of the contest.

Owls reliver Joe Fischer (Avon, Mass.) delivered a strong outing out of the bullpen to keep Bridgewater off the scoreboard for the first 4.1 innings of work, which gave the Owls offense an opportunity to climb ahead. He logged his second victory of the season after pitching 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits.

Joe Espinola (Plymouth, Mass.) worked his way out of the ninth inning jam to pick up his fourth save of the campaign. Ryan Lapierre (Pittsfield, Mass.) got the start for Westfield, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits across 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Matthew Seavey (North Attleboro, Mass.) tossed a quality start for the Bears, firing six innings while giving up just one run on four hits. He walked three and punched out five. The Bears bullpen surrendered the final seven runs of the game with Yesu (L, 3-3) taking the loss.

The Owls and Bears will wrap up the regular season tomorrow as the two teams meet again in a doubleheader set from Bridgewater, Mass. beginning at noon.