Carrozza Sparks Ninth Inning Rally in Owls 5-2 Comeback Win Over Worcester

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State unleashed a ferocious four-run ninth inning to erase a late deficit and secure a dramatic 5-2 comeback victory over MASCAC opponent Worcester State on Wednesday afternoon at Hagan Field.

The thrilling win improves the Owls to 16-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play while also winning the regular season series after the two teams split a doubleheader on Friday. The Lancers drop to 13-6 (4-2) in a game that could have significant implications for conference standings. Worcester served as the designated home team for today's game despite being played at Westfield due to unplayable field conditions at Worcester State.

Trailing 2-1 entering the final frame, Westfield State's offense, which had been largely silent through eight innings, finally broke through against one of Worcester's top arms in Ben Smith (Bourne, Mass.) (L, 3-2). Smith got two quick outs with a pair of fly outs as Westfield was down to their final out of the game. Stephen Carrozza (Pearl River, N.Y.) sparked the rally by rocketing a pinch-hit double into the left centerfield gap, bouncing up against the wall to put the tying-run in scoring position. Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.) followed and laced a game-tying single to right center, scoring pinch runner Nick Lenfest (Westfield, Mass.) to tie the game at two runs apiece. The floodgates opened from there as Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) followed with a single, setting the stage for Colin Ryan's (North Chelmsford, Mass.) infield hit that scored Burnett with the go-ahead run.

The Owls weren't finished. Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.), who had already stole two bases earlier in the contest, delivered a clutch single through the left side that plated Palmer to extend the lead to 4-2. Antonio Scalise (Pittsfield, Mass.) then put the finishing touches on the rally with an RBI single to right field that scored Ryan, giving Westfield State a commanding three-run advantage. The Owls were held to three hits entering the final frame before logging six consecutive hits all with two outs.

Michael Hall (Westfield, Mass.) (2-0) earned the victory with a perfect eighth inning in relief, while Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.), who recently struck out 16 Lancers in a complete-game shutout on Friday, was dominant once again, this time in a relief role in the ninth, striking out the side to record his first save of his career. McNamara's performance was particularly impressive as he needed just 17 pitches, 10 for strikes, to dispatch the final three Lancers batters.

Worcester State had built a 2-0 lead through six innings behind the pitching of starter Craig Barnes (Billerica, Mass.), who frustrated Westfield hitters throughout his six-inning performance. Barnes surrendered just one hit while striking out five, keeping the Owls off-balance with a mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches.

The Lancers' defense provided a highlight-reel moment in the top of the fifth when left fielder Kevin Doyle (Bridgewater, Mass.) made the play of the game and arguably the season in the conference, leaping at the wall to rob Palmer of what would have been a two-run home run. Palmer's deep drive appeared destined to clear the left field fence before Doyle timed his jump perfectly, reaching over the wall to snare the ball and preserve Worcester State's then-scoreless advantage.

Christopher Mondesir (Roslindale, Mass.) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth with a sharp double down the left field line that scored Ryan Jewett (Natick, MA), who had reached earlier on a walk. The Lancers extended their lead to 2-0 in the sixth when Anthony Iamarone (Providence, R.I.) tripled to the gap in right-center field and subsequently scored on Nathan Thurber's (Framingham, Mass.) sacrifice fly to deep center field.

Westfield State starter Jack Novak (Colchester, Conn.) delivered a quality start despite the early deficit, working six solid innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits. He struck out four Lancers and walked two. Sean Shea (Longmeadow, Mass.) bridged the gap with a scoreless seventh inning, setting the stage for Hall and McNamara to finish the job.

The Owls finally broke through against the Lancers' bullpen in the seventh inning when Robison Baez (Dominican Republic) tripled and scored on Nick Marshall's (Reading, Mass.) double to right field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Baez finished the day 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base, continuing his hot streak at the plate.

Worcester State's bullpen struggled to maintain the lead after Barnes' departure. Mike Bean (Tampa, FL) pitched two-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and one run, before Matthew Direnzo (Leicester, MA) got the Lancers out of the seventh with a bases-loaded strikeout. Direnzo worked a scoreless eighth but was replaced by Smith for the fateful ninth inning.

The comeback victory gives Westfield State valuable momentum as they continue their conference schedule tomorrow as the Owls begin a three-game series with Salem State at home tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. from Hagan Field in Westfield, Mass. Fans can follow the action live at WestfieldStateOwls.com.

Written by Tom Onorato - Sports Information Intern