Owl's Rebound With Doubleheader Sweep Over Salem State

SALEM, Mass. – Westfield State swept a pair of games in a key MASCAC doubleheader on Saturday as the Owls won by scores of 9-4 and 8-5 to improve to 16-8 on the season and 9-3 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. Salem State falls to 11-13 for the year and 5-7 in the MASCAC.

Game 1

John Gegetskas (Windsor, Conn.) went six innings, allowing four earned runs with 10 hits and 10 strikeouts to earn the victory in game one. Anthony Crowley (Bellingham, Mass.) belted his 25^th career home run, a solo shot in the seventh to set a new Westfield State career mark.

In the top of the third, Jared Ferrari (Waltham, Mass.) reached first on an error. After, Michael Cruz (Springfield, Mass.) was walked and Casey Boudreau (Shrewsbury, Mass.) reached first base on an error to load the bases. Ferrari scored on a passed ball to give the Owls a 1-0 lead. Aaron Clancy (Quincy, Mass.) added a base hit up the middle to bring in two runs as Owls went up 3-0. Later, Brett Dooley (Cohasset, Mass.) hit a ball into shallow left field to allow two runners to score extending the lead to 5-0. Ferrari produced an RBI-single after Westfield State batted around, putting the Owls up 6-0.

In the fourth inning, Salem State put runners in scoring position for Matt Marquez (Salem, Mass.), who delivered a single into left field to score both runners.

Salem State made a pitching change in the fifth as Matthew Enos (Beverly, Mass.) replaced starter Brock Riley (Lowell, Mass.) with one out and the bases loaded. Enos was able to get out of the jam, inducing a double play ball back to the pitcher.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mike Griffin (Hudson, N.H.) blasted a two-run home run over the scoreboard in deep left field to cut the deficit to 6-4.

However, Jake Gibb (Stoughton, Mass.) drove in two runs with a single in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 8-4 for the Owls.

Crowley's record-breaking home run in the seventh accounted for Westfield State's final run.

Riley was charged with the loss after pitching 4.1 innings, with six strikeouts and seven hits with no earned runs.

Game 2

Colin Dunn (Westfield, Mass.) went 2-for-4, with three runs, including a solo home run to spark an 8-5 win by Westfield State in game two.

In the first inning, Casey Boudreau (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Dunn each hit singles to start the game. Nick Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with an RBI-hit to put the Owls on the board at 1-0. Jared Ferrari (Waltham, Mass.) then doubled off the fence in left field as two runners reached home making it 3-0. Michael Cruz (Springfield, Mass.) added a two-run single and Westfield State exited the first with five runs.

Dunn hit a solo home run to left in the second inning giving the Owls a 6-0 lead.

With Shawn Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) on second, Luke Eggers (Duxbury, Mass.) doubled in the first Salem State run to make it a 6-1 game in the third inning.

The Vikings chipped away in the fourth. Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.) singled and Mike Griffin (Hudson, NH) doubled to put runners on second and third. Madoc Fisher (Wayne, NJ) hit an RBI-single and Matt Marquez (Salem, Mass.) doubled in another run to bring the Vikings within 6-3. Rebello added another base hit as Fisher scored and Salem State trailed 6-4.

However, Westfield State added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Anthony Crowley (Bellingham, Mass.) doubled to left field and Dunn scored as the Owls went up 7-4 in the sixth inning. Jake Gibb (Stoughton, Mass.) hit an RBI-double to put Westfield State ahead 8-4.

The Vikings added a run in the seventh on consecutive doubles by Briana and Griffin.

Shane Bogli (Vernon, Conn.) earned the win going five innings pitched with four runs, a walk and two strikeouts.

Luke Brennan (Worcester, Mass.) took the loss with three innings pitched and six earned runs allowed and three strikeouts.