McNamara, Palmer Lead Owls Past MCLA, 13-1

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior starter Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.) allowed one hit over five innings and senior outfielder Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) drove in three RBI as Westfield State completed a three-game series sweep over MCLA in a 13-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon from Hagan Field.

The Owls pull back to even in the conference standings, advancing to 6-6 in the MASCAC and 9-18 on the season and the Trailblazers fall to 2-10 in the conference and 8-16 overall.

Palmer had two hits on the day with his first RBI coming in the first inning after doubling to left field to bring in Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) who led off the inning with a bunt single. Chase Racine (Pittsfield, Mass.) added a sacrifice fly then with runners on first and third, Palmer alertly nabbed home plate on a left-handed pick off attempt, tallying the Owls third run of the frame.

The Trailblazers lone run came in the second inning with Chris Vargas scoring on a passed ball, moving Joe Sardo 90 feet away with one out. McNamara kept Sardo stranded, getting a strikeout then a ground out to end the half inning with a two-run lead.

Westfield's lead grew in the third and fourth innings as TJ May (North Granby, Conn.) collected his first of two hits on the day with a single into right field. Palmer tacked on a fifth run in the next inning on a single into left field as the Owls led 5-1 after four full.

McNamara continued to cruise on the bump and finished his outing with a pair of strikeouts in the fifth inning on the Trailblazers top two hitters in the order, finishing the afternoon with six strikeouts in five frames, allowing one unearned run on one hit and four walks.

The Owls were patient at the plate in the fifth inning, bringing in five runs on just two hits with the final three runs of the frame scoring via walks as Westfield opened a nine-run cushion.

Quinn Gallagher (Dalton, Mass.) tossed a scoreless sixth, allowing Westfield to push the game into run-rule territory (ten or more run lead after seven innings) after Antonio Scalise (Pittsfield, Mass.) led off with a single, eventually scoring on a wild pitch for a ten-run advantage.

Kaen Smith (Washingtonville, N.Y.) drove in another run a ground out, then Nick Lenfest (Westfield, Mass.) singled in the Owls final run of the game. Ryan Peters (Billerica, Mass.) worked around a one-out double from George Feliz to put a bow on the MASCAC victory.

Lenfest, Palmer, and May all had multi-hit games for Westfield and eight different Owls recorded a hit. Vargas, Feliz, and Ben Jacob tallied the three hits for MCLA.

McNamara (W, 2-4) gathered his second win of the season. John Arnott got the start for MCLA and took the loss after covering two innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits.

Westfield State will continue conference play on Friday as the Owls begin a series against Framingham State at 3:00 P.M. from Bowditch Field in Framingham, Mass.