Baseball’s Winning Streak Snapped at Coast Guard, 7-3

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Coast Guard designated hitter John Tacchini (Klamath Falls, Ore.) lashed the go-ahead three-run double in the fifth to put the Bears ahead, eventually holding on for a 7-3 victory over Westfield State in a non-conference game on the road Monday afternoon.

The Owls winning streak ends at eight games, dropping to 14-4 on the season. The Bears improve to 11-5 overall.

Westfield held an early 3-0 lead in the game with Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) doubling home Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to four consecutive games and give the Owls a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third inning a fielder's choice and an error led to the Owls second run of the game, then Thomas LaSpada (West Hartford, Conn.) ripped a double into the left-centerfield gap, plating Florence to open up a three-run advantage.

Coast Guard cut the deficit to two runs after a sacrifice fly from Noah Stafford (Jupiter, Fla.) in the bottom half of the third, making it a 3-1 ballgame heading into the fourth.

Owls starting pitcher Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.) held the Bears bats quiet through the first four frames, allowing just one run on four hits before running into trouble with two outs in the fifth inning.

With runners on first and second, Richard Barkley (Bellevue, Wash.) drew a walk to load the bases for Coast Guard, setting up Tacchini for the biggest hit of the afternoon, belting a bases-clearing double to tip the lead in the Bears favor, 4-3 to close the inning.

The Bears tacked on a fifth run in the sixth inning with more two-out hitting, this time with Carson Cho (Haymarket, Va.) tagging a run-scoring single to left field.

Westfield trailed by two runs into the eighth frame where the Owls would have a prime opportunity to cut into the deficit. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases with one out, forcing Coast Guard to turn to their closer, Charles Red (Panama City, Fla.) who collected a strikeout and a ground out to escape the scoring threat without allowing a run.

Stafford put the finishing touches on an impressive afternoon for the Bears, launching a two-run insurance homer to right field to up the lead to four runs.

The Owls were held to just three hits on the afternoon, drawing six walks. Florence and LaSpada each had run-scoring doubles. Palmer tallied one hit, marking the 16^th consecutive game played recording at least one hit. He also posted one walk and scored twice while also picking up a stolen base. 

Sean Harmon (Bethesda, Md.) picked up the victory for Coast Guard, tossing five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Red recorded the final five outs to record the save. McNamara (L, 2-2) took the loss for the Owls, giving up four runs on five hits, walking five and striking out four.

Westfield State will be back in action on Wednesday, weather permitting, as the Owls travel to Amherst College for a non-conference game at 4:00 P.M.