Owls Close Out Anna Maria; Fall at Bridgewater in MASCAC Tournament

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) and sophomore Nick Lenfest (Westfield, Mass.) both had three hits and Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.) tossed three scoreless frames in relief as the fifth-seeded Owls closed out fourth-seeded Anna Maria in a MASCAC tournament elimination game, 12-7, advancing to the double elimination section of the bracket where the Owls fell to top-seeded Bridgewater State 16-6 on Thursday from Bridgewater, Mass.

Westfield will face Worcester State in a MASCAC postseason elimination game tomorrow at 12:00 P.M. from Bridgewater State. The AMCATS season comes to an end with a record of 25-16.

GAME ONE VS ANNA MARIA

The Owls offense chased a pair of all-conference pitchers from the game early as Westfield jumped out to a five-run lead over the first three innings. Facing AMCATS starter Owen Sullivan, TJ May (North Granby, Conn.) got the scoring started on a fielder's choice in the first followed by a sacrifice fly from Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass).

In the third inning, an error from the AMCATS forced in a third run, then Nick Gouveia (Grafton, Mass.) singled down the left field line to drive in two, increasing the lead to five runs. The Owls chased Sullivan after two-plus innings, his shortest outing of the season as a starter.

Anna Maria clawed back into the game in the home half of the third with the first two batters reaching. After a strikeout, Brady Aylward singled in the AMCATS first run of the game, then after an infield single loaded the bases, Jonathan Guardascione was hit by a two-strike pitch, allowing a second run to score. With two out, Aiden Mroz cut the deficit to one run with a two-run double that dropped in the left center gap.

Andre Phaneuf (Westfield, Mass.) fanned Ryan Corcoran to escape the inning with the Owls ahead 5-4 after three innings. The Owls wasted no time upping the lead, this time tagging all-MASCAC arm Jesse Buonocore with May singling to center for a two-run lead. Martin followed and poked a grounder through the left side, then a two-out hit from Lenfest sent home a third run in the frame, extending the lead to 7-4 after three innings.

The AMCATS pushed across a run in the fourth, then in the fifth, the lead dropped to one run after Andrew Denison lofted a double to right, bringing in two runs. With runners on second and third and two outs, Westfield maintained the lead after Brendan Goonan (Raynham, Mass.) struck out Mason Kolczewski to strand two on.

McNamara entered the game in the sixth inning, striking out the side before running into trouble in the seventh inning with a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. With the tying run on third and go-ahead run at second, McNamara fanned the leadoff hitter in Denison and the number two hitter in Kolczewski, keeping the Owls in front 8-7 heading into the final two innings.

Momentum swung in the Owls favor with May delivering a RBI single followed by a wild pitch which scored Martin, pushing the lead back up to three runs. McNamara walked the leadoff hitter in the eighth but retired the next three hitters.

Chase Racine (Pittsfield, Mass.) added to the Westfield lead in the ninth inning, driving in two runs on a single through the right side with two outs for a 12-7 lead. The Owls handed the ball to AJ Moore (Long Beach Calif.) to wrap up the game and he did just that as the AMCATS went down in order to close out the win and send the Owls into the double elimination section of the bracket.

McNamara was the winning pitcher after throwing three innings without allowing a run, giving up two hits while walking two and striking out five. Phaneuf got the start, allowing four runs in three innings, giving up five hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Sullivan was the losing pitcher for Anna Maria after 2.1 innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on three hits, two walks, and four punchouts.

GAME TWO VS BRIDGEWATER STATE

Game two was much closer than the final result as the Owls battled back from a pair of four-run deficits to eventually bring the tying into scoring position in the seventh inning. The Bears were able to get out of the frame with a one-run lead before a nine-run home half of the seventh forced the game into run-rule territory.

The Owls trudged ten pitchers to the mound in game two (15 pitchers on the day) with no pitcher throwing more than one inning. Bridgewater built a four-run lead early and led 7-3 into the sixth inning where the Owls began to cut into the deficit. Matt Linehan (Plainville, Mass.) led off the frame with a double, advancing to third before scoring on a wild pitch to make it a three-run game.

In the seventh inning, Palmer scalded a deep fly ball that barely stayed in the park, bouncing up against the wall in centerfield for a leadoff double. Colin Ryan (Chelmsford, Mass.) stepped into the box and lined a single into left, bringing the tying run to the dish. Racine grounded out to bring in Palmer, then with two outs, Jeremiah Bobbi (Lebanon, Conn.) lifted a single into left for a 7-6 game. Bobbi reached second base on a wild pitch as the tying run, but reliever Matt Kustigian forced a flyout on the ninth pitch of a competitive at bat from Tyler Pegram (Fountain, N.C.).

The floodgates opened in the seventh for the Bears to put the game away with nine runs on five hits.

Griffin Pollard (Mystic, Conn.) started the game and took the loss. Bears ace Trey Yesu secured the win after logging 6.2 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.

Ryan totaled two hits and three RBI while Palmer reached base three times, a double and two intentional walks.