Ryan Delivers Walk-Off Hit in Owls Split Against Coast Guard

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior outfielder Colin Ryan (Chelmsford, Mass.) delivered the walk-off winner for Westfield State who defeated Coast Guard Academy in extra innings of game one as part of a doubleheader split at Archie Allen Field in Springfield, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan's walk-off single scored Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) to give the Owls a 3-2 win in eight innings in game one before dropping the second game of the twin bill, 3-0.

GAME 1

Ryan sent the Owls to a walk-off victory in game one, shooting a 1-0 pitch on a line into left field to score Palmer as the winning run. Palmer started the inning by blasting a single back up the middle, then Chase Racine (Pittsfield, Mass.) poked a ground ball to first base with the throw to second sailing into the outfield, allowing Palmer to advance up to third which set up the winning run.

The Owls nearly scored the game-winning run in the seventh inning. Kaen Smith (Washingtonville, N.Y.) tagged a ground ball towards the hole and beat out the throw which was batted down by a diving Carson Cho at second, getting the go-ahead runner aboard. Nick Gouveia (Grafton, Mass.) pinch ran for Smith, and advanced to second on a passed ball then attempted to score from second on a single to left by Will Winiarski (Suffield, Conn.) but was cut down at the plate on a terrific throw from Max Van auken, eventually pushing the game into extras.

AJ Moore (Long Beach, Calif.) relieved Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.), who delivered a quality start for Westfield, and picked off a Bears runner at first base to set up the Owls walk off scenario. Moore earned the victory after two scoreless frames. McNamara pitched six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits, walking one while striking out five.

The game turned into a pitchers duel between McNamara and Coast Guard starter Raymond Priddy with neither team scoring heading into the home half of the fifth. A Coast Guard error opened the door for the Owls to take the lead. Ryan reached on an error, then Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Smith lined a single up the middle to bring in Ryan, notching the first run of the game for either side.

Coast Guard answered in the sixth inning, forcing the Owls to come from behind. Nate Stafford belted an opposite field shot down the left field line, advancing Cho to third, pulling into second with a one out double. A fielding error allowed the lead runner to score, moving Stafford 90 feet away while putting runners at the corner. A wild pitch in the next at bat brought in Stafford and put the Owls in a 2-1 hole midway through the sixth.

Westfield had an immediate answer to the Bears scoring with Palmer causing havoc on the basepaths. After singling to centerfield, he did a delayed steal to nab second base, then built a gigantic lead at second and took off to third before the pitch was delivered, forcing the Bears pitcher into a balk attempting to cut down Palmer. Racine was able to drive in Palmer with a fielder's choice as a late decision to throw home was not in time to catch Palmer, knotting the game up at two runs apiece.

Palmer and Smith both had multi-hit games.

GAME 2

The Owls bats were quieted in game two by Coast Guard starter John Dimarsico and reliever Alexander Smith.        Dimarsico faced one batter over the minimum possible number of hitters, allowing just a first inning single to Palmer.

14 straight Owls hitters were retired, sending the game all the way to the sixth inning before Nick Lenfest (Westfield, Mass.) singled off Smith. Neither runner would come around to score as the Owls had just one runner reach second base in the contest. Lenfest has now recorded at least one hit in six of his last seven games and has reached base in all eight games this season.

Stafford doubled home the Bears first run of the game in the third inning and Van auken added a run-scoring single for a 2-0 lead after three innings. An Owls error allowed a third run to cross the plate.

Demarsico picked up the win after tossing five innings, allowing just one hit while fanning two. Smith followed and notched a two-inning save, giving up one hit. Andre Phaneuf (Westfield, Mass.) got the starting nod in game two, covering five innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. He walked two and struck out four.

Westfield State will have a quick turnaround as they head to Trinity College tomorrow to take on SUNY New Paltz in a doubleheader starting at 12:00 P.M.