Owls Tally 28 Runs In Twinbill Sweep of MCLA

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Westfield State extended its unbeaten run with a dominant doubleheader sweep of MCLA on Tuesday at Shewcraft Field, rolling to a 21-1 win in five innings in Game 1 before taking the nightcap 7-1.

 Westfield State improves to 24-0 overall with the twinbill sweep, and 8-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.

 MCLA is 14-12 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

 In the opener, Westfield State erupted for 22 hits and scored in four of five innings to overwhelm MCLA. The Owls plated two runs in the second, broke the game open with four in the third and added three more in the fourth before finishing with eight runs in the fifth.

 Rylie Camacho led the offensive barrage, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Hannah Wodecki delivered a standout performance with four hits, including a home run, and four RBIs. Mia Alfonso also homered and drove in three runs, and Caroline O'Donnell added three hits and four RBIs as part of a balanced lineup that produced extra-base power and consistent run production throughout.

 In the circle, Joss Mettey earned the win, allowing one run on six hits over three innings, while Isabella Schaeffer tossed two scoreless innings in relief to close out the shortened contest.

 MCLA managed its lone run in the third inning.

 Westfield State carried that momentum into Game 2, using a five-run surge across the fifth and sixth innings to secure a 7-1 victory.

 Sarah Hough sparked the offense with a solo home run in the first inning and later added a two-run single during a four-run fifth that broke the game open. Lyla Dwyer contributed a run-scoring single and scored twice, while Kassidy LaTour added an RBI double as part of the decisive rally.

 The Owls added two more runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Arielle Ostman and an MCLA error to extend the lead to 7-0.

 Angelina Vartuli was dominant in the circle, striking out 13 and allowing just one run on four hits in a complete-game effort to improve to 7-0 on the season.

 MCLA broke up the shutout in the seventh inning on Samantha Wheeler's RBI single, but the comeback attempt fell short as Westfield State closed out the sweep.

 Westfield continues its record start to the season with a 24^th straight win.    The Owls climbed into the NFCA top 25 poll today for the first time, sitting in a tie for 25^th after receiving votes in the poll the past two weeks.   The Owls were ranked ninth in the NCAA's NPI computer rankings as of this morning.

Westfield State will have a busy week on the diamond, hosting Western New England on Thursday at Sullivan Field, followed by a Saturday date with Framingham State, and a Monday twinbill against Mass Maritime, which will also serve as the Owls senior day.