Owls Hold Off Falcons to Earn Split of Doubleheader

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) sparked a third-inning rally to push Westfield State ahead in game two, as the Owls held off another late-inning Fitchburg rally to salvage a split of the Falcons in a MASCAC doubleheader from Hagan Field in Westfield, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.

The Owls held off Fitchburg 5-4 in game two after the Falcons rallied from two runs down in game one to defeat Westfield, 3-2. Westfield wins the regular season series against Fitchburg, winning two of three games with the Owls winning 12-5 on the road Friday afternoon.

Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) tossed 6.1 innings and allowed two earned runs in game two for the Owls, who advance to 24-12 overall and 12-6 in the MASCAC. Matthew Kelly (East Bridgewater, Mass.) collected three hits and two RBI across the pair of games for the Falcons, who own an 11-24 season record and a 6-12 mark in the conference.

GAME 2

Fitchburg grabbed an early two-run lead to begin game two with Joseph Abt (Newbury, Mass.) plating the first run of the game, then an Adam Koza (Windham, N.H.) double down the leftfield line gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead after one inning.

The Owls strung together three runs in the third inning to take the lead with an Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) single and a Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) walk setting the table for Neidel who singled through the left side of the infield to put Westfield on the board.

Aggressive baserunning from the Owls eventually put them in front with Palmer correctly reading a pitch in the dirt at third base where he would sprint home and dive under the tag to tie the game at two runs apiece. Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) skied a pop-up into foul territory on the right side with Luke Sterner (Stafford, Mass.) ranging over the shoulder to make the catch. Neidel managed to dart home on the play, scoring just before the tag was applied to take the lead, 3-2.

Westfield tacked on two crucial insurance runs in the fifth inning with Florence notching his 98^th career hit on a single into centerfield, scoring Neidel to push the lead to 4-2. Another run came in to score for the Owls later in the frame on an error, putting Westfield up 5-2.

After a Fitchburg comeback in game one, the Falcons threatened to do the same in game two in the final inning. With two outs and a runner on first, a walk from pinch hitter Casey Bellew (Beverly, Mass.) followed by an RBI single from Mat. Kelly sent the go-ahead run to the plate.

Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) extended the two-out rally with a single up the middle, scoring another run to cut the Owls lead to one run. With the tying run on third and go-ahead runner on second, Joe Fischer (Avon, Mass.) was able to strikeout the next hitter, allowing the Owls to survive with the victory.

Vasseur (W, 4-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over 6.1 frames, walking two and fanning four. Fischer tallied his second save of the season. Shane Daly (Rockland, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg.

GAME 1

A strong outing on the mound from senior Ryan Donahue (Medfield, Mass.) was overshadowed by a furious seventh-inning rally from the Falcons, who loaded the bases with one out with Westfield in front 2-0. Cole DuHaime (Warminster, Pa.) drew a walk to trim the Owls lead to one run.

Then with two outs and the bases still loaded, Mat. Kelly delivered the go-ahead hit by lining a single into center, scoring two to give Fitchburg their first lead of the day.

Westfield tried to return the favor in the ensuing bottom half, putting two runners on with one out. However, Falcons starter Joseph Stawski (Niantic, Conn.) was able to retire the final two Owls batters to secure the game one win.

Stawski (W, 3-3) hurled a complete-game for Fitchburg, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, walking one and striking out three. Donahue took a no-decision in an effort that saw him toss six scoreless frames, giving up three hits and walking one while punching out four. Joe Espinola (Plymouth, Mass.) took his first loss of the season.

A diving catch in left field by Koza in the fourth inning stranded two Owls baserunners, keeping the deficit close enough for the Falcons to eventually complete the come-from-behind win.

Martin gave Westfield a lead in game one a sacrifice fly, then in the sixth inning, Thomas LaSpada (West Hartford, Conn.) connected for a two-out double to extend the Owls lead to 2-0.

Westfield State has just three games remaining in the regular season as the Owls battle for a top two-seed in the MASCAC Tournament this upcoming weekend against Bridgewater State with the series beginning on Friday at 4:00 P.M. from Bridgewater, Mass. Fitchburg State returns home to face Saint Joseph (Conn.) before taking on Framingham to close the regular season.