Burnett Ties Single-Season Home Run Record in Owls Setback Against Bridgewater

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.) blasted his 12^th home run of the year to tie the single-season program record, but Bridgewater State scored four unanswered runs over the final two innings to defeat the Owls 7-4 on senior day in a MASCAC baseball game Friday afternoon at Bud and Jim Hagan Field.

The solo shot increased Burnett's RBI total to 56 on the season which also ties the school record for most runs driven in in a single season, tying Kevin Lyons '10. His current slugging percentage of .837 would set the program record ahead of Jack Dougherty's '76 program-leading .785 slugging mark.

With the win, the Bears clinch the top seed in the MASCAC Tournament and the league's outright regular season title, moving to 16-3 in MASCAC play and 25-11 overall. The Owls drop to 12-7 in the conference and 25-10 on the year. The Owls will need to win both games of the doubleheader tomorrow in order to secure the second seed and a first-round bye in the MASCAC Tournament. A loss in one or both games will drop the Owls into the single elimination portion of the tournament.

In a game that saw the lead change hands four times, Bridgewater State's DJ Prampin (Worcester, Mass.) delivered the decisive blow with a two-run homer to left center field in the eighth inning that turned a one-run deficit into a 5-4 lead. The Bears weren't finished, as they added two valuable insurance runs in the ninth on Philip Messina's (Dunkirk, N.Y.) clutch two-run single through the left side that scored Logan Petrosino (Beverly, Mass.) and Brendan Flaven (Taunton, Mass.), putting the game out of reach.

Cameron Breault (Buzzards Bay, MA ), (3-1), earned the win in relief for the Bears, tossing 2.1 innings with three strikeouts and one walk. He did not allow a hit and was efficient in shutting down an Owls comeback effort. Charlie Walsh (Medfield, Mass.), (4-3), suffered the loss for the Owls, allowing three runs in his inning of work.

Westfield jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning when Robison Baez (Dominican Republic) delivered a two-out triple to right center, driving in Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) and Thomas LaSpada (West Hartford, Conn.) who had reached on a single and walk respectively.

The Bears responded quickly in the third with back-to-back RBI singles from Flaven and Joshua Selander (Granby, Conn.) to tie the game at 2-2. Flaven's single through the right side scored Jamie Luna (Warwick, R.I.), who had reached on a single to lead off the inning, while Selander's well-placed hit to second base brought home Kevin Lindsay (East Bridgewater, Mass.).

Bridgewater took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on Scott Emerson's (Peabody, Mass.) RBI double to left field that plated Luna for his second run of the game. The Owls showed resilience by tying things up in the fifth with Sam Palmer's (Medfield, Mass.) RBI double that scored Nick Marshall (Reading, Mass.), who had singled to lead off the inning. Burnett, continuing his strong season, gave Westfield a 4-3 advantage with a towering solo home run to left field in the seventh that momentarily energized the home crowd.

Luna had a stellar day at the plate, leading the Bears' 13-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs scored. The junior left fielder also showed his speed on the basepaths with a stolen base. Senior first baseman Ryan Flaherty (Duxbury, Mass.) matched Luna's hit total, going 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored, while Prampin and Messina each drove in two runs to lead the Bridgewater offense.

Marshall continued his hot hitting for the Owls, pacing the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. The junior designated hitter raised his season average to .346 with the performance. Baez drove in two with his second-inning triple, while Burnett's seventh-inning homer was his team-leading 12th of the season.

Bears starter Trey Yesu (Monson, Mass.) worked 6.2 solid innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts. The sophomore right-hander kept the potent Owls offense in check for most of the afternoon before giving way to Breault.

Westfield starter Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) pitched 5.2 innings, surrendering three runs while striking out five and hitting two batters.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for Westfield State, who had been gaining ground in the MASCAC standings after their impressive series sweeps over MCLA and Fitchburg State last week.

Before the start of today's game, Westfield State honored its 13 seniors: Robison Baez, Dan Burnett, Quinn Gallagher, Michael Hall, Nick Marshall, Justin Neidel, John Nickerson, Dominic Novio, Sam Palmer, Devin Slattery, Jonathan Toth, Colton Vasseur, and Charlie Walsh 

Westfield State and Bridgewater State will continue their series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon at Alumni Park Field in Bridgewater, Mass. to close the 2025 regular season.

Written by Tom Onorato – Sports Information Intern