WESTFIELD, Mass. - When Tommy Lasorda managed the Los Angeles Dodgers, they said he was so dedicated to the team that if you cut him he'd bleed Dodger blue.

Westfield State fifth-year senior Kyle Murphy is so dedicated to the Owls that he used an injury redshirt year to come back to school and start pursuing his graduate degree while getting to play one more year of baseball.

Both the Owls and the Dodgers wear blue. But Murphy is now Mr. Black and Blue.

Murphy set the Owls single-season record with his 13^th (official) hit by pitch this season in the Owls' MASCAC tournament win over Framingham State, where Murphy's bat later put him further into Owls' lore with a check-swing single to left that drove in the game winning run to propel Westfield State into the championship round.

In total, Murphy has been hit 15 times this season. When he drew his 12^th hit batsman award, the home plate umpire refused to give him first base, claiming he did not try to avoid the pitch. Murph looked back at the umpire, and said "What do you think, I'm trying to get hit ?"

Westfield State plays a high level of collegiate baseball, typically facing pitchers that throw fastballs in the mid-80 mph range, and occasionally seeing 90-mph plus heat. Who would want to be hit by that?

A few pitches later, Murphy did indeed get hit (again), and took his base.

Teammates were aware of how close Murphy was to the unusual record. When he set the record a cry of "get the ball!" came from the Owls' dugout, a ritual usually reserved for a historic base hit or home run.

(The record of 31 career HBP is held by Garrett Kendziera '08, who was also a tight end on the Owls' football team, so he was used to being hit).

Murphy did get some extra help in his record pursuit in the form of a injury redshirt year, after breaking his wrist during his senior year, just before the cutoff date to use a redshirt. In yet another ironic twist, it wasn't a hit-by-pitch that caused the injury, rather a diving catch in the outfield.

Murphy now has 30 career HBP's, and is just one more errant toss away from going to the top of the Owls career record for being hit.

It may be a record that no one really wants to earn.