Westfield State senior lefthander John Gegetskas set the Owls career record for strikeouts, and Alex Benevidies hit a three-run bomb to lead the Owls to an 18-5 win over Mass Maritime Academy in a MASCAC baseball game in Buzzards Bay, Mass. on Thursday night.
The Owls and Buccaneers will reengage in their three-game series with a doubleheader on Friday, with the start time now moved to 1:15 p.m.
Gegetskas struck out Marley Dembritzki swinging to end the fourth inning, the 235th strikeout of Gegetskas' career, passing the mark set by set by Bob Moniz '78. Gegetskas set the Owls single season record for strikeouts last year as a junior. He's increased his strikeout rate this season, fanning more than 11 hitters per nine innings pitched.
Gegetskas tossed six innings, allowing three hits and just one earned run while striking out 10. He improved his record to 4-2 on the season and now has 240 career strikeouts.
Benevides launched a three-run home run to center field, the first of his collegiate career, in the top of the fourth inning to help stake the Owls to an 11-0 lead.
The Owls improve to 18-8 on the season and 10-3 in the MASCAC, and have taken over first place in the league standings, a full game ahead of second-place Fitchburg State. Maritime drops to 7-20 and 3-11 in the league.
Westfield got two hits each from Casey Boudreau, Jacob Butler and Colin Dunn. Dunn and Benevides each finished with three RBI for the Owls.
Starter Mason Ashburn took the loss for MMA, lasting just 1.1 innings. The Owls drew a total of 12 walks from five Buccaneer pitchers.