Palmer Goes Yard, Lapierre Tosses Eight Innings as Owls Top Buccaneers, 4-2
Sam Palmer delivered the go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning and Ryan Lapierre struck out nine over eight, innings as the Owls eliminated Mass. Maritime 4-2 on Thursday afternoon.
#5 Mass. Maritime
17-20, 10-11
2
#4 Westfield St.
25-14, 13-8
4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 4 | 8 | 1 |
May 9, 2024
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) delivered the go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning and Ryan Lapierre (Pittsfield, Mass.) struck out nine over eight innings as Westfield State advanced to the MASCAC quarterfinals with a 4-2 victory over Mass. Maritime on Thursday afternoon.
Lapierre (W, 9-0) secured his ninth victory of the season in just his tenth start, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits, walking two and punching out nine Buccaneers hitters. The Owls advance into the double elimination portion of the MASCAC Tournament and will face top-seeded Salem State this afternoon with an approximate first pitch at 2:30 P.M. Mass. Maritime have been eliminated from the tournament.
With the game tied at two runs apiece, Palmer unloaded on a long fly ball out to left field that cleared the scoreboard, putting the Owls in front, 3-2. Westfield tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning with Robison Guerrero Baez (Dominican Republic) spraying a line drive out to left field for a run-scoring single, plating pinch-runner Matt Linehan (Plainville, Mass.).
Joe Espinola (Plymouth, Mass.) relieved Lapierre in the ninth inning, tossing a one-two-three inning to pick up his fourth save of the season, propelling Westfield into the next round of the tournament.
The Owls battled back from an early deficit after Grady Freeman (Worcester, Mass.) put the Buccaneers on the board, launching a solo home run out to left field to put the Buccaneers in front, 1-0. Freeman had an effective day at the plate, clubbing three hits for Mass. Maritime.
In the fifth inning, a pair of walks from Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) put runners at first and second with one out. Hunter Dean (Plymouth, Mass.) then forced an infield flyout, setting up Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) with two down. Down to his final strike in the at bat, Florence laced a line drive into the left-centerfield gap to score two runs, giving Westfield a 2-1 lead after five innings.
In the ensuing top half, Damon White (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) led off the frame with a single up the middle, then later in the inning, a fielder's choice and an error allowed White to advance to third base with two outs. During the next at bat, Lapierre slipped off the mound and failed to deliver a pitch, forcing the tying run to score on a balk.
A similar situation occurred in the eighth inning with a balk moving the tying run into scoring position with two outs. However, Lapierre was able to escape the scoring threat, inducing a flyout to Sean Clark (Dudley, Mass.) in leftfield on his 128th pitch of the outing.
Dean took a no decision after logging six innings, surrendering two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and four walks. Buccaneers reliever Brenden Baiardi (Harwinton, Conn.) took the loss, covering the final two innings while giving up two runs.
Clark and Baez each had two hits for the Owls. Freeman and AJ Pietrafesa (Harwinton, Conn.) combined for five of Maritime's seven hits.
The winner of the Owls and Vikings game will advance into the winner's bracket final with a chance to advance into the MASCAC Championship game. The loser will enter the elimination portion of the bracket. Both teams will play tomorrow from Salem, Mass. with game times to follow.