Falcons Claw Past Owls in MASCAC Opener, 8-7

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State sophomore Kaen Smith (Washingtonville, N.Y.) tallied three hits and knocked home a pair of runs, but Joseph Abt broke a tie in the eighth by plating the go-ahead run in an 8-7 Falcons victory in the MASCAC opener from Bud and Jim Hagan Field in Westfield, Mass. on Wednesday afternoon.

The Owls are now 3-11 on the season and 0-1 in the MASCAC while the Falcons improve to 3-10 overall and 1-0 in the conference. Fitchburg served as the designated home team despite the game being played in Westfield due to unplayable field conditions in Fitchburg.

Westfield dug themselves in a five-run hole after the first inning as the Falcons turned six hits into five runs. Maxwell Riordan got the scoring started by blasting a two-RBI triple to right center, then three singles from the bottom of the Falcons order led to three additional runs, hitting through the lineup.

The Owls would have an immediate response in the top half of the second with Jacob Lucas (Rutland, Mass.) singling back up the middle and into centerfield to plate Antonio Scalise (Pittsfield, Mass.) to get the Owls in the scoring column. The next three hitters: Nick Lenfest (Westfield, Mass.), Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.), and Smith all drove in runs on singles to cut the Falcons lead to just one run (5-4) midway through the second.

Brady Campbell increased the Fitchburg lead to two in the home half, then Abt added a seventh run in the third to stake the Falcons to a 7-4 lead at the end of three.

Westfield continued to chip away in the middle frames, getting the help of three relievers who held down the opposition for four consecutive frames. In the top of the fourth, Martin drove in a second RBI with a sacrifice fly, then Smith doubled down the left field line to trim the deficit to one run at 7-6.

David Chaisson (Fishers, Ind.), Dan Provost (Westfield, Mass.), and Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.) strung together four scoreless frames, allowing Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) to tie the game in the seventh after belting a double out to left field to score Martin as the tying run. The Owls nearly took the lead on the next at bat as Chase Racine (Pittsfield, Mass.) rocketed a ball over the centerfielder's head, but a perfect relay nailed Palmer at the plate to keep the game tied at seven midway through the seventh.

McNamara struck out the side in the bottom of the inning, but the Owls could not find the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth, setting up the Falcons go-ahead run on a fielder's choice grounder hit right by the first base bag, which allowed Casey Bellew, who reached on a leadoff walk then stole second, score to take an 8-7 lead.

The Owls went down quietly in the ninth inning with left-hander Pete Joslyn recording the final two outs to post the save. Ryan DiSano picked up the victory for the Falcons after tossing 1.2 scoreless frames out of the pen in relief of starter William Ernst who provided length with 6.2 innings. Ryan Peters (Billerica, Mass.) was saddled with the loss as the sixth pitcher to enter the game for Westfield. Jack Novak got the starting nod.

The top five Falcons hitters combined for eight of the Falcons' ten hits on the afternoon with Abt, Jason Kelly, and Brady Campbell all collecting multi-hit efforts.

Smith had three hits for Westfield with Racine, Lucas, and Lenfest all adding two hits apiece for an Owls team that struck out just three times.

Westfield State will remain in conference play for their next outing as the Owls visit Worcester State on Friday at 3:00 P.M. before hosting the doubleheader against the Lancers on Saturday at Hagan Field beginning at noon. Fitchburg State will begin a three-game series against Bridgewater State on Friday at 3:30 P.M.