Palmer’s Clutch Home Run Forces Extra Innings to Help Owls Broom Bucs

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) extended game two into extra innings with a two-out, two-run homer as the Owls would defeat Mass. Maritime in ten innings to complete the season sweep of the Buccaneers in a MASCAC doubleheader on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Owls defeated the Bucs 14-5 in game one, then rallied back in game two to win 5-3 in ten frames to take all three games from Mass. Maritime in the regular season series.

Westfield has now won eight straight games, improving to 14-3 on the season and 3-0 in the MASCAC. Mass. Maritime drops to 7-11 overall and 0-3 in the league.

GAME 2

The Owls trailed 3-1 entering the seventh inning where Thomas LaSpada (West Hartford, Conn.) singled to right field with one out. Westfield got down to their final out where Palmer stepped up to the dish and belted a long fly ball to right-centerfield which would clear the fence to tie the game at three runs apiece.

Joe Espinola (Plymouth, Mass.) was phenomenal in an extended relief appearance for Westfield. He set down the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.

Neither team scored in the ensuing two innings, with just one runner reaching base in the eighth and ninth from both teams combined. In the top of the tenth, Palmer again found himself in the center of the scoring, leading off the inning with a single where he would quickly swipe second base.

Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed and dropped a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line, advancing to first and sending Palmer to third base with nobody out. Sean Clark (Dudley, Mass.) then chopped a grounder to third base where Palmer was able to score with a headfirst dive into home to give Westfield the lead.

Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) tacked on an insurance run for the Owls with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Martin to give Westfield a two-run lead entering the bottom of the tenth.

In his fourth inning of relief, Espinola quickly pitched through the heart of the Buccaneers order, setting Maritime down in succession to pick up a gritty victory. He allowed just one hit in four innings of work, striking out four.

Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) got the start for Westfield in game two, tossing five innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, walking four and striking out four. Joe Fischer (Avon, Mass.) relieved Vasseur to bridge the game to Espinola. As a staff, the Owls gave up just five hits.

Mass. Maritime starter Hunter Dean (Plymouth, Mass.) cruised through the first six frames, allowing one run before Palmer's blast in the seventh left him with a no decision on the afternoon. He surrendered three runs on nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts across seven innings.

GAME 1

With the Owls behind 1-0 heading into the second inning, an offensive outbreak formed with the long ball playing a key role after Florence launched his second home run in as many days, punching a fly ball out to centerfield to put Westfield in front, 2-1.

First-year infielder John Bessette (Andover, Mass.) drew a walk to let in the third Owls run, then after an error plated the team's fourth run, Martin and Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) connected for run-scoring singles to open up a 7-1 lead.

The Bucs responded with a three-run bottom of the second frame, but the Owls were able to extend their lead in the fourth with Slattery's second two-RBI single of the contest to bring the lead up to 9-4. Four more runs came across to score in the fifth and sixth innings, upping the lead to nine runs to ultimately put game one out of reach.

Ryan Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) settled into his start to pick up the win, pitching five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Slattery tallied three hits and drove in four in the middle of the Owls lineup. Bessette consistently rolled the lineup over, taking three walks and adding two hits and two RBI.

Westfield State will travel to Coast Guard for a non-conference game on Monday at 3:30 P.M.